The Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako, made the assertion on Friday while delivering the opening address at the International Webinar on Science and Policy Discourse themed “Accelerating Cervical Cancer Elimination towards 2030 Agenda: Myth or Reality?”
The webinar was organised by the Nigerian Academy of Medicine (NAMed) in collaboration with the National Taskforce on Cervical Cancer Elimination (NTF-CCE).
Salako described cervical cancer as one of the world's most preventable cancers but lamented that it continues to claim the lives of thousands of Nigerian women because many cases are diagnosed late and access to screening and treatment remains inadequate.
According to him, Nigeria records an estimated 13,676 new cases of cervical cancer every year, with a significant proportion of patients presenting at advanced stages of the disease when treatment becomes more difficult and costly.
“Behind these statistics are mothers, wives, daughters and contributors to our nation’s productivity,” the minister said.
Government aligns with WHO targets
Salako said the Federal Government has made cervical cancer elimination a key national health priority by aligning its strategy with the World Health Organization's 90-70-90 targets. The global initiative seeks to ensure that 90 per cent of eligible girls receive the HPV vaccine, 70 per cent of women undergo screening, and 90 per cent of women diagnosed with cervical disease receive appropriate treatment.
He noted that under the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and with support from the Renewed Hope Initiative championed by the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, Nigeria has adopted an integrated approach to reducing the burden of the disease.
One of the country's biggest achievements, he said, has been the rollout of the nationwide single-dose HPV vaccination programme introduced in 2023.
According to the minister, the phased vaccination campaign has already reached more than 17 million girls between the ages of nine and 14 years, making it one of the largest public health immunisation efforts in the country.
He disclosed that the government's next objective is to build on that success by expanding vaccination through schools and community-based outreach programmes, with particular attention to reaching out-of-school girls and increasing national coverage beyond 80 per cent.
Screening remains biggest challenge
Despite the progress in vaccination, Salako admitted that screening and treatment remain the weakest links in Nigeria's cervical cancer response.
He said the government is intensifying efforts to make HPV-based screening more accessible at primary healthcare centres, strengthen referral systems for women requiring specialist care and improve the capacity of institutions such as the National Institute for Cancer Research and Treatment to serve as regional hubs for diagnosis and treatment.
The minister also revealed that the National Taskforce on Cervical Cancer Elimination has been established to coordinate interventions across government agencies and partners while ensuring Nigeria remains on course to meet its 2030 elimination target.
In addition, he said health information systems are being strengthened to improve data collection, monitoring and evaluation of cervical cancer prevention programmes nationwide.
Commitment to sustainable funding
Salako acknowledged the contributions of development partners supporting Nigeria's cervical cancer elimination efforts, including the Renewed Hope Initiative, Gavi, the Global Financing Facility, UNICEF, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and other international organisations.
However, he stressed that long-term success will depend on increasing domestic investment in cancer prevention and control.
While reaffirming the importance of international partnerships, the minister said the Federal Government is committed to progressively expanding local funding to guarantee the sustainability of cervical cancer interventions beyond donor support.
Call for action
Salako also highlighted Nigeria's growing leadership role in global cervical cancer elimination efforts, noting that the country co-led the resolution establishing World Cervical Cancer Elimination Day and is now serving as a model for similar initiatives across Africa and the Commonwealth.
He urged participants at the international webinar to move beyond policy discussions and focus on implementing practical solutions that will accelerate progress towards eliminating cervical cancer.
Declaring the webinar officially open, the minister called on governments, healthcare professionals, development partners and civil society organisations to renew their commitment to ensuring that the goal of eliminating cervical cancer by 2030 becomes a reality for every Nigerian woman and girl.