Sixteen states in Nigeria currently do not have a radiation or clinical oncologist, the President of the Nigeria Cancer Society (NCS), Prof. Abidemi Omonisi, has revealed.
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Speaking at the opening of the Science of Advanced Prostate Cancer in Africa (SoAPCA) Conference 2025 in Lagos, Omonisi described the situation as a “national emergency,” noting that the shortage of specialists forces cancer patients to travel long distances for treatment.
“In a country of over 200 million people, more than 16 states have no oncologist. In some regions, only one specialist is available, working around the clock due to overwhelming demand. Patients are left stranded or compelled to travel hundreds of kilometres for basic care,” he said.
Omonisi explained that prostate cancer has overtaken liver cancer as the leading cancer among Nigerian men, yet most patients still present at advanced stages due to stigma, fear, and late diagnosis.
He criticised the 2025 federal budget allocation of only ₦150 million for breast, cervical, and prostate cancers, describing it as grossly inadequate. “Most Nigerians pay out-of-pocket for cancer treatment, which can cost millions of naira. This is unsustainable,” he stressed, urging the National Assembly to prioritise cancer funding in the 2026 Appropriation Bill.
The NCS president also highlighted brain drain as a key factor in the shortage of oncologists, with many specialists relocating abroad or to neighbouring African countries where they earn up to seven times more than in Nigeria.
“Nearly half of Nigeria’s oncologists are concentrated in Lagos, Abuja, and Port Harcourt. We need incentives to encourage specialists to serve in underserved states. Cancer should not be a death sentence simply because of poverty or lack of doctors,” he added.
Omonisi further called for increased awareness and early screening, noting that prostate cancer, if detected early, can be managed for decades with modern therapies.
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