The Nation Newspaper

Category: Health

Early detection, healthy living key to beating cancer, Uzodimma tells Nigerians

Cancer is not a death sentence. Regular screening, early medical check-ups, healthy lifestyles, and collective action can save lives, the First Lady of Imo State and Chairperson of First Ladies Against Cancer (FLAC), Barr. Chioma Uzodimma has said.

She urged Nigerians to pay attention to warning signs, seek medical help promptly, and spread cancer awareness within their families and communities, stressing that survival is possible when the disease is detected early and properly treated.

Uzodimma gave the charge in Owerri during a public health walk to mark the 2026 World Cancer Day, themed “United by Unique.” According to her, defeating cancer requires unity, awareness, prevention, and sustained investment in healthcare.

“Let us promote early detection and prevention, support patients with dignity and strengthen our collective resolve against cancer,” she said.

Leading thousands of participants through the streets of the state capital, the First Lady described the walk as a message of hope for millions battling the disease and a reminder that early diagnosis saves lives.

The walk, which began at the Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu International Conference Centre and ended at the Imo State Specialist Hospital, drew government officials, health professionals, students, civil society organisations, and community leaders, who carried placards promoting routine screening and healthy living.

Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Mr. Adino Kennedy, speaking on behalf of the First Lady, emphasised that early detection remains the strongest weapon against cancer and urged participants to become health ambassadors in their communities.

Chairman of the Nigerian Cancer Society, Imo State chapter, Dr. Okechukwu Duru, called for intensified public enlightenment, noting that ignorance and late presentation continue to cost many lives.

Stakeholders at the event stressed the need for stronger collaboration, wider screening programmes, and improved investment in cancer care to ensure that quality treatment is accessible and survival rates improve across Nigeria.

February 8, 2026
Non-implementation of mental health act scares foreign donors from Nigeria – Medical Expert

The Provost of the Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Abeokuta, Professor Afis Agboola, said on Saturday that the non-implementation of the Mental Health Act is discouraging foreign donors from investing in Nigeria’s health sector.

Agboola, who expressed the concern in Abuja during the 2025 budget performance and 2026 budget defence held at the instance of the House of Representatives’ Committee on Speciality Healthcare, appealed to the parliament to impress it on the Minister of Health to commence implementation of the Mental Health Act.

He noted that there were other donor agencies abroad that were willing to partner and help the federal government agencies on the issue of mental health patients, “but because there is no agency or a Unit that can relate with them, we never got assistance from the donors.”

Although the provost disclosed that the hospital tried to reach out to the Federal Ministry of Health, they kept complaining about funding, adding that “the issue of non-implementation of the Mental Health Act is an issue that we have been battling for over two years now that has been signed into law.”

He told the committee that the Institution spent almost N1 billion in revenue generated to take care of abandoned patients.

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According to him, “The issue of abandonment of patients is a major problem, and unfortunately, we have a bill that was passed by the National Assembly, the Mental Health Act, which was passed and signed into law by former president Muhammadu Buhari. Unfortunately,, up to this very moment there is no execution of that bill. The Act itself specifies who does what. “

Speaking on the 2025 budget implementation, he disclosed that the Hospital recorded zero budget implementation due to the non-release of appropriated funds.

While noting that despite receiving AIE to incur up to 25 to 30 percent of the budget, the hospital has been unable to meet its financial obligations.

He added that a lot of Psychiatric hospitals cut down on some non-regular staff, including Consultants as a result of non-payment of salaries.

According to him, about 10 months of the overhead was released, adding that the issue of energy cost is affecting all the hospitals; however, other non-regular releases were paid.

Chairman of the House Committee on Speciality Healthcare, Hon. Alex Egbona, assured that at least 30 per cent of the capital component of the 2025 budgetary allocation will be released before the end of February 2026.

February 8, 2026
Non-implementation of Mental Health Act deters foreign donors, says hospital provost

The Provost of the Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Abeokuta, Professor Afis Agboola, said on Saturday that the non-implementation of the Mental Health Act is discouraging foreign donors from investing in Nigeria’s health sector.

Agboola raised the concern in Abuja during the 2025 budget performance review and 2026 budget defence at a session organised by the House of Representatives Committee on Specialty Healthcare.

He appealed to the lawmakers to urge the Minister of Health to commence implementation of the Act, particularly the provision for the establishment of a Department of Mental Health.

“If you can, please sir, impress it on the Minister of Health to implement that Act that talks about the creation of the Department of Mental Health. Though we have a desk officer in the ministry, that is just a minute part of it,” he said.

“There are some fundings in which like in the United of America, there is Department of National Mental Health Agency are ready to partner with us but they kept asking do we have the agency but they kept asking so you know, but I’m aware there to have some funding new trend is and there is due though, and of course other health centers agencies but they were able to access those funding because there are statutory bodies that will give records of those things.

“And of course we have other donor agencies abroad that are willing to partner and help our federal government agencies on eliminating the suffering of mental health patients but because there is no Agency or a Unit that can relate with. So, please I want to plead with the Committee to impress it upon our leaders in the Federal Ministry of health to do it it is an Act and if they refuse to implement that Act, I think even though I’m a staff of Federal Ministry of Health they are not doing well to our patients.

“On our own, we try to reach out to the Federal Ministry of Health which is our parent body and what they kept saying is about funding issue. Even though I work under them, the Director, Dr. Azeez is here. Maybe the National Assembly can send them too, yeah, he’s still the staff of the Ministry. He’s the staff of the Ministry.

“You know, the issue of non-implementation of the Mental Health Act in the creation of this department of in the creation of department of mental health is an issue that we have been battling for over two years now that have been signed into law.

“I understand the bureaucracy of the civil servants. Just two days ago I had a meeting with the Minister of Health, the Honourable Minister of State for Health and the P.S. and the DHS that are responsible for our hospitals. And they kept saying that the psychiatric hospitals are asking for more.

“We cannot but ask for more because mentally-ill patients are Nigerians that have problems that could have caused social issues, other medical conditions. And we cannot but continue to ask for more.

He told the committee that the Institution spent almost N1 billion it revenue generated to take care of abandoned patients.

He said: “The other thing is the issue of abandonment. It’s an issue abandonment of patients. It’s a major problem and unfortunately we have a bill that was passed by the National Assembly, the Mental Health Act that was passed and signed to law by former president Muhammadu Buhari.

“Unfortunately up to this very moment there is no execution of that bill. The Act itself specifies who does what. The representative of the federal government, the state government and even the local government.

Speaking on the 2025 budget implementation, he disclosed that the Hospital recorded zero budget implementation due to non-release of appropriated funds.

While noting that despite receiving AIE to incur up to 25 to 30 percent of the budget, the hospital has been unable to meet its financial obligations.

He added that a lot of Psychiatric hospitals cut down on some non-regular staff including Consultants as a result of non-payment of salaries.

According to him, about 10 months of the Overhead was released adding that the issue of energy cost is affecting all the Hospitals, however other non-regular releases were paid.

Chairman of the House Committee on Specialty Healthcare, Hon. Alex Egbona assured that at least 30 percent of the capital component of the 2025 budgetary allocation will be released before the end February, 2026.

February 7, 2026
Insurgency denying children immunisation in North East, says ex-Reps member

Former member of the House of Representatives and medical practitioner, Dr Wale Okediran, has said insurgency in the North East has deprived children and infants of essential immunisation for more than five years.

He made the disclosure while speaking on Guest Platform, a monthly programme of the state-owned Broadcasting Corporation of Oyo State (BCOS).

Okediran said the development poses serious risks to the health of affected children and infants, warning that failure to address the situation could lead to higher child mortality rates and possible outbreaks of epidemics.

He also lamented that the Boko Haram insurgency has restricted the movement of people in some northern states, adding that the crisis has disrupted commercial activities and reduced their internally generated revenue (IGR).

He said, “The North of Nigeria has been a very difficult story. When we were young many of us loved going to the North. We have our railway system which at that time unified Nigeria. Many of our parents were railway workers.

“People like late Chief Bola Ige and his generation were all born in the North. If I may recall, Chief Ige told us that his first language was Hausa. Imfact, he came to the Southwest of Nigeria when he was about twelve years old. He couldn’t speak a word of Yoruba because his parents were railway workers who were working in the North.

“In those days, the railway system and many other things were good, you have many Yoruba extraction growing up in the North. They were even born there and the movement was peaceful.

“Unfortunately, in the last decade or so because of the onslaught of insurgency, the North has become a difficult place to visit.

“When I was working on my book, ‘Madagali’ I had the opportunity of working in Yola, Adamawa state. I used that opportunity to tour the areas of the North down to Borno state. I had first hand information of the devastation caused by the Boko Haram insurgency.

“I was totally depressed about what was happening couple with this out of school children. The insurgency has affected so many indices including health.

“Where I am bothered as health practitioner is that because of insurgency, we have not been able to immunize many children in the North for years.

“When you want to look at the indices of Nigeria when it comes to vaccination, the North’s record will always go down.

“Also the rate of out of school children is on increase while farming has also been affected. Many areas of human endeavour has been affected by the insurgency.

“I am hopeful that with this collaboration between Nigeria and some other foreign countries to stem insurgency, the North will be able to regain its glory pf previous years.”

On the military assistance being rendered by the United States government to stem insurgency, Okediran said, “the assertion that the genocide is against the Christians is wrong because we all know that when it comes to terrorism, there is no religious bias. Both Christians and Muslims are affected.

“Also, I know by hindsight that when a country needs external help to tackle some of its problems, there is nothing wrong in calling for help. We remember the ECOMOG military force that was drafted to Liberia and Sierra Leone when they had civil war. It was ECOMOG that helped these countries to clear their mess.

“My own feelings is that if Nigeria has needs for external helps either from the US or the NATO particularly in the area of the Military Intelligence or Technology, there is nothing wrong in asking for help.”

February 7, 2026
Experts call for stronger emergency newborn care in Nigeria

The Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Outreach of Hospitals, Dr Efunbo Dosekun, has called for an urgent nationwide scale-up of Comprehensive Emergency Obstetric and Neonatal Care (CEmONC) as Nigeria continues to record high levels of preventable newborn deaths and lifelong disabilities.

Dosekun made the call during a virtual news conference titled How CEmONC Is Reducing Maternal and Newborn Deaths in Nigeria.

She disclosed that Nigeria is among the four worst countries globally in terms of newborn survival, with one in every 25 babies dying shortly after birth.

According to her, when maternal and neonatal deaths are combined, Nigeria ranks second highest in the world.

Dosekun identified sepsis, jaundice, birth asphyxia and prematurity as the leading but largely preventable causes of neonatal mortality in the country, stressing that delays in accessing appropriate care remain a major challenge.

She also warned against the casual handling of newborn jaundice, noting that harmful traditional practices, including exposing babies to direct sunlight, can prove fatal.

“If a baby develops jaundice, you must go to a health facility to check the levels. There are charts that guide doctors on whether the baby needs specialised lights or urgent intervention. If not treated properly, jaundice can progress very fast and lead to brain damage or death,” she said.

On neonatal sepsis, she urged parents and health workers to act swiftly once symptoms appear, explaining that severe infections can quickly overwhelm a newborn’s system if not treated early.

Dosekun also drew attention to birth asphyxia—babies who fail to cry at birth—which she described as a major cause of hypoxic ischaemic encephalopathy (HIE), a condition that results from oxygen deprivation to the brain.

“When a baby cries at birth, oxygen enters the lungs and triggers critical changes in circulation that help the baby adapt to life outside the womb. If this process goes wrong, the brain is damaged. In severe cases, about 80 per cent of these babies die, and survivors often live with seizures or long-term disabilities,” she explained.

She highlighted the Helping Babies Breathe programme as a proven, low-cost intervention, noting that trained birth attendants can successfully resuscitate most non-breathing babies within the first 60 seconds of life.

According to her, such training should be made compulsories for all birthing practitioners, including nurses and traditional birth attendants.

Babies who require resuscitation, she added, must be closely monitored at secondary-level hospitals because of risks such as seizures, low calcium levels and other complications.

Addressing prematurity, Dosekun stressed the importance of quality antenatal and perinatal care, including timely administration of steroids to mothers in preterm labour and ensuring deliveries take place in facilities with functional neonatal units.

Drawing from over four decades of experience in paediatrics and neonatology, she described newborn care as one of the most demanding areas of medicine, where early referral often makes the difference between life and death.

While acknowledging efforts by Nigerian paediatricians through professional bodies such as the Paediatric Association of Nigeria (PAN) and the Nigerian Society of Neonatal Medicine, she said the country is still far from meeting its neonatal care needs.

Dosekun admitted that delays occur both at home and within hospitals due to overcrowding, limited bed space and weak referral systems. Using Lagos State as an example, she said neonatal bed capacity remains grossly inadequate for a rapidly growing population, even in major teaching and maternity hospitals.

She also raised concerns about the high cost of neonatal care, describing it as a global reality that Nigeria cannot ignore.

“Quality care for sick and premature babies is expensive all over the world. We need to be honest about that,” she said.

To address financial barriers, Dosekun disclosed that the Federal Government has expanded its emergency obstetric funding programme to include newborn care under the CEmONC initiative. For the past two years, the programme has covered emergency obstetric services, including caesarean sections, to prevent delays caused by lack of funds. About three months ago, it was extended to neonatal care.

Despite this progress, she noted that the shortage of neonatal beds remains a major obstacle. As a result, the government has launched a pilot programme involving selected private hospitals across different geopolitical zones to complement public facilities.

Dosekun revealed that Outreach Hospital Group, which she runs, has been accredited to provide level two neonatal care under the pilot scheme. In Lagos, vulnerable families can now access emergency newborn care at the group’s Lekki and Festac hospitals, alongside designated federal medical centres.

She described the pilot programme as a learning process aimed at identifying gaps in referral systems, workforce capacity, organisation of care and public awareness before nationwide expansion. However, she observed that uptake has been slow due to limited public awareness that free acute neonatal care is now available.

Commending Lagos State’s investments in maternal and child health, she noted that the establishment of at least 11 Maternal and Child Care Centres (MCCs) has contributed to a significant reduction in maternal deaths. Nevertheless, she cautioned that teaching hospitals remain congested and cannot be the sole destination for critically ill newborns.

“To make emergency maternal and newborn care work, we need strong middle-level hospitals. Primary, secondary and tertiary care must work together. Not every sick baby should end up in a teaching hospital,” she said.

She also called for the development of a coordinated emergency referral and transport system, supported by digital technology, to ensure rapid communication and timely transfer of sick newborns.

“From what we have seen in the last three months, about 80 per cent of babies arrive extremely ill. Even with good emergency care, some cannot be saved, or they survive with disabilities,” she said.

Dosekun further emphasised that the success of the CEmONC programme depends heavily on health education and community awareness. She called on families, traditional birth attendants, grandmothers, religious leaders and community influencers to recognise danger signs such as poor feeding, fever, jaundice, breathing difficulties and failure to cry at birth.

“This problem is too big for one group to solve alone. If we work together—from the community to the hospitals—and focus on awareness, early referral, training and data, Nigeria can make remarkable progress in reducing newborn deaths and long-term disabilities,” she said.

February 6, 2026
Govt seizes chemically ripened fruits in Oyo market, issues health warning

As part of ongoing efforts to protect residents from the dangers of unsafe food practises, the Oyo state government has intercepted and seized chemically ripened fruits during a food safety enforcement exercise at a market in Oyo town.

The operation was carried out on Friday by officials of the Department of Food, Water and Laboratory Services of the State Ministry of Health, following an anonymous tip-off.

During the exercise, about 12 baskets of mangoes artificially ripened with chemicals were confiscated, having been prepared for sale to unsuspecting members of the public.

Speaking during the enforcement activity, the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Oluwaserimi Ajetunmobi, warned residents to be cautious about the sources of the food they consume, noting that the use of chemicals to preserve or enhance food items poses serious health risks.

She disclosed that the Ministry has received increasing reports of sharp practices among some food vendors, including the use of hazardous substances to hasten fruit ripening.

Dr. Ajetunmobi said the interception was carried out based on credible intelligence received by the Ministry.

“The mandate of the Ministry of Health is to ensure the safety and well-being of the people of Oyo State. Based on credible information received, our officers moved in immediately and intercepted these chemically ripened fruits before they got to consumers,” she said.

The Commissioner explained that some vendors often soak unripe and immature mangoes in chemicals, causing them to appear ripe within hours.

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She warned that while such fruits may not cause immediate harm, prolonged consumption could lead to chemical build-up in the body, which may result in cancer and other long-term health complications.

She also advised residents on how to identify chemically treated food items, noting that artificially ripened mangoes often have uneven colouring with green patches.

She added that vegetables may appear unnaturally green, while meats preserved with chemicals typically do not attract flies.

Dr. Ajetunmobi stressed that the interception serves as a strong warning to those engaged in unsafe food practices, urging residents to avoid patronising suspicious food items.

She further encouraged residents to adopt home-based gardening as a way of ensuring access to safe and healthy food.

In her remarks, the Director of Food, Water and Laboratory Services, Dr. Afusat Akande, confirmed that the seizure followed a report from a concerned member of the public.

She added that the Ministry has continued to engage food sellers’ associations across the state on food safety standards.

According to her, vendors and market associations have been sensitised and encouraged to report any unsafe practises within their markets, stressing that offenders will be sanctioned in line with existing regulations, while market associations will also be held accountable.

She also urged parents and guardians to caution their children and wards to be mindful of the food they purchase and consume, particularly within school environments.

February 6, 2026
Japa syndrome: Fed Govt’s measures reversing trend, yielding results, say Ganduje, NMCN boss

• Council inducts 206 foreign-trained nurses

Stakeholders in the nation’s health sector have said the recent government interventions at addressing the mass migration of health workers, popularly known as the ‘Japa’ syndrome, are beginning to yield results.

The stakeholders spoke yesterday in Abuja at the induction ceremony of 206 foreign-trained nurses, where they assessed the renewed efforts to retain skilled medical personnel in the country.

The nurses were inducted into the profession after completing a compulsory six-month adaptation programme conducted in 10 Nigerian universities and passing the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN) professional examination.

The inductees graduated from 15 institutions across several countries, including Niger Republic (62), Ghana (35), Cameroon (35), India (22), Cyprus (19), the Philippines (nine), Sudan (nine), Egypt (five), Turkiye (two) and Ukraine (one).

As part of the registration process, all successful foreign-trained nurses are required to undergo formal induction, similar to their counterparts trained in Nigeria.

The inductees also took the Oath of Allegiance, pledging to maintain confidentiality and abstain from acts harmful to patients.

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The immediate past National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and former Kano State governor, Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, said reforms introduced by the Federal Government were gradually reversing the trend of outward migration.

Ganduje expressed optimism that ongoing reforms under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration would further strengthen the health sector and encourage professionals to remain in the country.

“To now finish the internship and decide to go back to where they were coming from, after the government has spent some investment on them? I assure you it will be a different story because the reforms undertaken by the present government will turn the tide,” he said.

The former APC national chairman noted that improvements in health service delivery were already influencing the decision of many Nigerians trained abroad to return and practise in their country.

“I think it is a welcome development, because when we have our own children studying abroad and then coming back and joining the service, that is very encouraging,” Ganduje said elatedly.

NMCN’s Registrar and Chief Executive Officer, Al-Hassan Ndagi, said Nigeria was no longer facing a shortage of trained nurses, following the expansion of training capacity and the introduction of new retention measures.

Responding to concerns about Nigerians studying nursing abroad, despite the availability of accredited programmes locally, he acknowledged the concern but said the number involved was relatively small.

“Well, it is a matter of concern because we have a very large number of institutions in Nigeria. But the 206 that you are seeing is just a drop in the ocean of the number of nurses that we train in Nigeria,” Ganduje said.

The APC stalwart said Nigeria produces no fewer than 27,000 nurses per examination cycle, conducted twice yearly, in addition to midwifery graduates.

“In every year, we produce nothing less than 115,000,” he said.

He explained that foreign-trained nurses are required to undergo an adaptation programme to align them with Nigeria’s professional ethics and healthcare delivery system.

“The ethics and other principles of service here in Nigeria are not the same as those of the outside country. We have noticed the difference in them that does not align with our system. That is why we have to remodel them and make them conform to Nigerian society,” he said.

Baring his mind on the retention of nurses in the country, Ndagi said existing policies ensure that newly inducted nurses remain in the country for at least two years.

“They will go for a one-year internship. After that, they will also do another one-year National Youth Service. They will remain in the country for two years,” he said.

To bolster the in-country retention of the nurses, the registrar announced that the Federal Government had approved a central placement system for newly inducted nurses, enabling authorities to deploy them to health facilities nationwide for service and further training.

“While they are rendering the service, they are also acquiring more and more skills,” he said.

Addressing concerns about shortages arising from previous large-scale migration, he said training quotas were expanded to offset losses.

“About three years ago, in a single year, we recorded about 57,000 nurses leaving the country. So, it meant we were training for outsiders,” he said.

Ndagi added that over 250,000 nurses are currently serving in Nigeria, while urging the government to accelerate recruitment to absorb available manpower.

“My call to the government is that more and more nurses should be employed in the service,” he said, noting that Nigerian nurses remain highly regarded internationally.

Ndagi urged the newly inducted nurses to prioritise the interests of Nigerians, particularly those in hard-to-reach and underserved communities.

“I encourage you to be exemplary ambassadors of the nursing profession. Demonstrate humility, discipline and respect in your interactions with the public. Let kindness and compassion guide your care for all patients,” he said.

He emphasised strict adherence to professional ethics and cautioned against unprofessional conduct, including on social media, “Please note that you are now solely responsible for your nursing actions,” he said.

Ndagi also advised the nurses to embrace lifelong learning, pursue further training and contribute positively to the image of the profession.

Other speakers at the event advised the inductees, who will proceed on a one-year internship followed by the National Youth Service, to take their training seriously, uphold confidentiality and adapt to the evolving needs of patients.

The event also featured the presentation of awards to outstanding inductees and the institution that produced the overall best inductee, Cynthia Okwor.

February 6, 2026
Empower Academy will unlock skills development

The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, has described the Empower Academy Nigeria as a strategic national platform to accelerate skills development and unlock our healthcare value chain.

He spoke after witnessing the inauguration of the academy.

The Academy, unveiled as a phased programme beginning with a digital learning platform, will expand into hybrid innovation hubs and permanent world-class training centres in partnership with universities and research institutions.

Prof. Pate said the initiative reflects President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s vision under the Presidential Initiative for Unlocking the Healthcare Value Chain (PVAC) to reposition Nigeria as a manufacturing hub while creating quality jobs for young Nigerians.

He emphasized that Empower Academy Nigeria directly addresses the country’s critical gap in industry-ready professionals, especially in pharmaceutical manufacturing and life sciences. According to the Minister, while many Nigerians possess academic qualifications, there remains a shortage of practical “how-to” skills needed for regulated manufacturing, quality assurance, and regulatory science. The Academy is designed to bridge this gap by combining classroom learning, laboratory practice, mentorship, and factory-style training, equipping young people with both technical competence and purpose, while strengthening local production and global competitiveness.

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Also speaking at the event, PVAC National Coordinator, Dr. Abdu Mukhtar, announced that the Academy’s courses will be offered free to qualified Nigerians for the next two years, adding that the curriculum is designed to be practical, realistic, and industry-driven. He called on private sector players and academic institutions to actively collaborate with the Academy to ensure learners gain real-world, hands-on experience.

Prof. Pate commended the National Coordinator of PVAC, the entire PVAC team, Empower School of Health, Prof. Paul Lalvani, and all partners for bringing the vision to life. He also expressed appreciation to President Tinubu for providing the leadership and policy direction that made the initiative possible.

He noted that Empower Academy represents a growing narrative of innovation, hope, and opportunity in Nigeria. The Minister reaffirmed government’s commitment to expanding access for young talents nationwide, saying the programme marks a major step toward building a resilient healthcare workforce and a stronger Nigerian economy.

Pate added: “I’ve heard from Dr. Mukhtar, and also Professor Albani, is actually this Latin narrative. The possibility of an exciting future, repositioning Nigeria on the African continent for its own people, but also on the global stage. What we’re doing here is world class.

“And I believe this is just the beginning. That’s why when the President lists the Renewable Agenda, it’s not just a political slogan. There’s a vision, and there is an expectation that there’s a different reality that you have to imagine, and then walk the path to realize it.

“Nigerians will see that this vision is real, and that Nigeria can be a manufacturing hub, can unlock the healthcare value chain, can create jobs, quality jobs, not any job. Because here we’re not talking about just jobs, because you can have jobs that are short term, no progression, not well-paying, those are not quality jobs. That’s not the kind of jobs we’re talking about.”

Prof. Lalvani said: “What we are providing here is practical accessible skills for industry. Good news, under the arrangement that we have under this partnership, we are providing in the first instance, so this is going to be delivered in three phases that Paul is going to demonstrate, but the first phase which we are launching today, the virtual platform is going to provide about 40, at least 40 different courses, ready-to-use courses, and Honorable Minister, these courses are going to be free of charge to all Nigerians for the first two years, for the first two years, every Nigerian.”

February 6, 2026
Cancer: FG intensifies cancer fight, launches new policies, activates 8 oncology centres

The federal government is intensifying efforts in cancer prevention, screening, and treatment through new national policies, expanded vaccination, upgraded facilities, and free nationwide screening programmes, the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Adekunle Salako, has said.

Speaking at a press briefing in Abuja to commemorate the 2026 World Cancer Day, Salako said the government has prioritised cancer prevention by integrating preventive vaccines into the national immunisation programme, expanding screening services, and addressing modifiable risk factors linked to cancer deaths.

He explained that the focus on prevention became necessary because more than 40 per cent of cancer deaths globally are linked to modifiable risk factors such as tobacco use, alcohol consumption, unhealthy diets, obesity, and air pollution.

“This means that nearly half of cancers could be prevented through public health interventions,” he said.

Salako disclosed that Nigeria has developed two major policy documents to strengthen cancer control nationwide: the National Nuclear Medicine Policy and Strategic Plan, the first of its kind in the country, and the National Cancer Control Plan (NCCP) 2026–2030.

The NCCP will guide federal and state governments, development partners, and other stakeholders to improve cancer prevention, screening, early detection, diagnosis, treatment, research, survivorship, and end-of-life care.

The Minister said the plan prioritises vaccination, equitable access to screening, timely diagnosis and treatment, expansion of palliative care, use of technology, including precision oncology and artificial intelligence, workforce development, and sustainable financing.

“These documents will strengthen our relentless effort to provide clear policy pathways towards improving the quality of life of cancer patients, and increased investment in cancer prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and research,” he said.

Salako noted that the policies align with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the National Health Act, the WHO cancer strategies, and global initiatives on childhood and breast cancer.

Furthermore, he said Nigeria is also collaborating with Egypt and Kenya to establish the African Oncology Collaborative Network to strengthen oncology systems across the continent, which will be unveiled before the end of the third quarter of 2026.

Highlighting the scale of the challenge, Salako cited global data showing that about 20 million new cancer cases were recorded worldwide in 2025, with over 10 million deaths.

“Although age-adjusted cancer death rates have declined globally, it has been predicted that there may be more than 30 million new cancer diagnoses by 2050 due to a growing and ageing population,” he said, warning that low- and middle-income countries like Nigeria face disproportionately higher cancer burden and death rates.

The Minister said the government has expanded screening and treatment capacity through the National Institute for Cancer Research and Treatment (NICRAT), including the provision of mammography machines and other equipment to Federal Medical Centres in Abuja and Ebute-Meta; University of Benin Teaching Hospital; University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu; Usmanu Danfodio University Teaching Hospital, Sokoto; Federal Teaching Hospital, Gombe; Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital; and Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital, Ile-Ife.

“This means that Nigerians can now routinely undertake breast cancer screening services in these hospitals and not wait for ad hoc screening activities,” he said.

As part of World Cancer Day activities, Salako said the Ministry, in collaboration with NICRAT, is sponsoring free cancer screening services across the country throughout February.

The programme began at FMC Abuja and will be officially flagged off on February 7 at FMC Abeokuta, before moving to Abakaliki and Jos.

He said the target is to screen a minimum of 1,000 Nigerians per region, adding, “I want to encourage everyone to take advantage of the free screening services to promote cancer awareness and early detection for favourable treatment outcomes”.

He formally unveiled the National Nuclear Medicine Policy and Strategic Plan and the National Cancer Control Plan 2026–2030, and declared the eight preventive oncology clinics operational nationwide, “Prevention is not only better, but it is also cheaper,” he said.

The Director-General of NICRAT, Prof. Usman Aliyu, highlighted persistent gaps in prevention, early detection, treatment, and palliative care, noting uneven access to quality services.

“Too many Nigerians still face barriers to prevention, early detection, diagnosis, treatment, and palliative care,” he said, stressing that addressing these inequities is central to NICRAT’s mandate.

He said late presentation continues to undermine treatment outcomes, prompting the launch of the Renewed Hope National Initiative for Cancer Early Detection, Screening, and Coordinated Access to Networked Care, establishing National Cancer Screening Centres in eight facilities across the six geopolitical zones.

He said NICRAT is also reviving brachytherapy services nationwide and investing in workforce development through training and continuous professional development for specialists.

“While every cancer journey is deeply personal and unique, our response must be united across disciplines, institutions, sectors, and borders to ensure that no one is left behind,” Aliyu said.

He added that NICRAT’s Strengthening Institutional Capacity for Cancer Research (SINCAR) project is enhancing research capacity, while the expansion of the National Cancer Registry is improving data quality for informed policy.

“Every statistic represents a human life, every policy must centre on people,” he said, reaffirming NICRAT’s commitment to a comprehensive, equitable, and sustainable cancer control response in Nigeria.

On the activated National Cancer Screening Centres, the DG said, “The centres will provide screening for the most common cancers in Nigeria, including breast, cervical, prostate, colorectal, and liver cancers. We have also incorporated skin cancer screening on a compassionate basis, particularly for persons living with albinism.

“We are working to integrate cancer screening into the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) to reduce out-of-pocket costs for patients and make these services more accessible.

“The FMC Jabi centre, along with our other centres nationwide, is fully equipped and has already commenced screening services.

“We plan to operate daily on weekdays, with a team of medical personnel, including oncologists, surgeons, dermatologists, gynaecologists, and family medicine doctors drawn from participating federal health institutions to ensure comprehensive care.”

February 5, 2026
How Nigeria’s festive season is fuelling a silent health crisis

In Nigeria, festive seasons are moments of joy, generosity and excess. But beneath the music, meals and merriment lies a growing public-health concern. As sugary drinks and ultra-processed foods dominate celebrations, health experts warn that the country’s rising burden of non-communicable diseases is being quietly accelerated, report ADEKUNLE YUSUF and OLABISI AZEEZ

By the time Christmas lights flicker on across Nigerian cities, something else is already in motion. Long before the first carol is sung or the first pot of rice is stirred, an invisible infrastructure has been activated—one that does not serve celebration so much as consumption, not community but chemistry.

Festive seasons in Nigeria have always been generous. They stretch tables, loosen purses, and soften the year’s hard edges. But in recent years, public health experts warn, something has shifted. Celebration itself has become a delivery system for disease. This was the central concern raised on February 4, 2026, in Lagos, when Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA) presented findings from its report, Unhealthy Food Hijack of Festive Periods in Nigeria. Speaking to journalists, CAPPA’s Executive Director, Akinbode Oluwafemi, framed the issue starkly. “What we are dealing with is not festive excess,” he said. “It is a systematic reshaping of Nigeria’s food environment at the most vulnerable moments of the year.”

Between November 25, 2025, and January 5, 2026, CAPPA documented how the food and beverage industry used Christmas and New Year as high-risk windows to flood Nigerian spaces—physical and digital—with marketing for sugary drinks and ultra-processed foods. The result, public-health advocates argue, is not just seasonal indulgence but the reinforcement of dietary patterns driving Nigeria’s accelerating crisis of non-communicable diseases (NCDs).

Nigeria’s burden of non-communicable diseases has been rising quietly but relentlessly. Hypertension, type 2 diabetes, stroke, and cardiovascular disease are no longer conditions of affluence or old age. They are increasingly diagnosed in working-age adults and, disturbingly, in younger populations. Yet festive periods—already associated with higher food intake—have become moments when the country’s weakest dietary defences are deliberately breached. “Festive marketing acts as a health risk amplifier,” Oluwafemi warned. “It intervenes precisely when consumption is already elevated and restraint is lowest.”

CAPPA’s monitoring revealed a level of saturation that public-health researchers describe as environmental exposure. From malls and transport hubs to churches and parks, Nigerians encountered repeated cues nudging them toward high-sugar, high-salt, and high-fat products. This was not accidental visibility. It was coordinated behavioural nudging. Examples were everywhere: Coca-Cola’s revived Holidays Are Coming truck tour; Nigerian Breweries’ Legendary Christmas light installations; Gino’s Christmas Village in Gbagada Park. These were not just promotions. They were immersive environments in which unhealthy products were positioned as essential companions to joy, generosity, and national identity. “When unhealthy foods are presented as cultural symbols,” a CAPPA researcher noted, “they stop being seen as dietary risks. They become emotional necessities.”

From a health perspective, the most alarming findings involved children. Festive marketing targeted young people with a precision that bypassed parental control. Cartoon characters, Santa figures, free samples, school donations, and “gifts” embedded unhealthy foods into childhood memory and habit formation. Indomie’s Season to Show Some Love campaign placed branded Santas in malls. Viju Milk’s school donations arrived wrapped in Christmas messaging. Peak’s Enjoy Christmas at Its Peak breakfast events normalised sweetened milk as a daily staple. “These are not neutral gestures,” Oluwafemi said. “They are early dietary interventions—only conducted by corporations rather than health professionals.”

Public-health evidence is unequivocal: taste preferences and consumption habits formed in childhood persist into adulthood. Early exposure to sugar and salt increases lifelong risk of obesity, hypertension, and diabetes. Teenagers and young adults were targeted differently but just as deliberately. Music festivals, influencer challenges, and scan-to-win games linked sugary drinks to entertainment, social status, and aspiration. Coca-Cola’s Flytime Fest promotions blurred consumption with access—drink more, attend more. Maggi’s influencer-driven Taste of Christmas campaign reframed seasoning cubes as lifestyle choices rather than sodium-dense additives. “Dietary risk was disguised as lifestyle content,” the report observed.

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When charity becomes a health hazard

Perhaps the most ethically troubling finding from a health standpoint was the use of corporate social responsibility as a vehicle for dietary harm. Donations to schools, churches, markets, and NGOs—often involving malt drinks, sweetened beverages, or ultra-processed foods—were presented as acts of compassion. In reality, CAPPA argues, they functioned as brand implantation in trusted spaces. “Nigerian Breweries’ Beer Villages promoted malt drinks as family-friendly,” the report notes, “while alcohol brands remained visible in the same environments.” Knorr’s Share the Good Jollof cook-offs, staged in dozens of communities, normalised heavy seasoning use under the banner of love and togetherness. “These activities generate goodwill that shields companies from scrutiny,” Oluwafemi said. “But from a health perspective, they embed risk where trust is highest.” The parallels with tobacco industry tactics are deliberate. Public-health scholars have long documented how harmful industries use philanthropy to soften resistance and delay regulation. The festive season, CAPPA found, has become a prime opportunity for this playbook.

If physical spaces were saturated, digital platforms were infiltrated. CAPPA’s volunteers tracked festive campaigns across Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and X, capturing how unhealthy food marketing merged seamlessly with entertainment. AI-generated videos, influencer partnerships, hashtag challenges, and promotional lotteries blurred the line between advertising and personal expression.

Coca-Cola’s personalised Share a Coke campaign tied identity to sugar consumption. Bigi’s New Year messages used religious language, aligning sugary drinks with faith and hope. Maggi’s youth-focused digital content embedded seasoning products into aspirational narratives. “For regulators, this is a nightmare,” a CAPPA analyst explained. “These are not adverts you can easily label or ban. They are emotional cues hidden in culture.” From a health perspective, this represents a regulatory gap with measurable consequences. Exposure increases. Accountability disappears. Children and young people—already heavy digital users—receive the most intense messaging.

The health impacts of festive marketing are not evenly distributed. Urban, low-income communities experience the highest exposure. Parks, transport hubs, informal markets, schools, and churches—spaces heavily used by poorer families—were transformed into branded environments with no health warnings. “These are the same communities,” Oluwafemi noted, “that struggle most to access diagnosis and long-term care.”

As ultra-processed foods displace traditional diets, households are pushed into cycles of illness and out-of-pocket spending. Treatment for hypertension, diabetes, and stroke is expensive and lifelong. An underfunded health system absorbs the downstream costs of private marketing decisions. “Festive consumption today becomes hospital queues tomorrow,” Oluwafemi said.

Policy failure as a health risk

CAPPA’s report is explicit: voluntary self-regulation by industry has failed to protect public health. Advertising codes exist, but enforcement is weak. CSR guidelines are porous. Digital marketing remains largely ungoverned. From a health systems perspective, this leaves Nigeria exposed. CAPPA calls for comprehensive, legally binding restrictions on the marketing of unhealthy foods and beverages—particularly during festive periods when exposure and vulnerability peak. These must cover digital platforms, outdoor advertising, broadcast media, point-of-sale promotions, and influencer marketing.

Equally critical is banning branded CSR activities in schools, religious institutions, and community spaces. “Donations tied to brand visibility are not neutral,” Oluwafemi said. “They are public-health hazards disguised as kindness.” The organisation also reiterates the need to raise Nigeria’s sugar-sweetened beverage tax to at least 50 percent of retail price, in line with WHO recommendations, with revenues earmarked for NCD prevention, treatment, and health system strengthening. Mandatory front-of-pack warning labels would restore information asymmetry that festive marketing deliberately erodes.

But none of this matters without enforcement. “Health policy without enforcement is symbolism,” Oluwafemi warned. “And symbolism does not save lives.” CAPPA’s appeal to journalists is grounded firmly in health ethics. Festive campaigns, the organisation argues, should not be reported as harmless colour stories. Behind every branded concert or charity donation lies a public-health implication. “Journalists are gatekeepers of context,” Oluwafemi said. “The question is not whether a campaign looks generous, but what it does to population health.”

Festive seasons should strengthen social bonds and wellbeing. They should nourish bodies as well as spirits. Instead, CAPPA’s findings suggest, they are being engineered into moments of intensified health risk. The danger is not celebration itself, but its capture. What Nigeria faces, then, is a choice: whether festive joy remains a shared cultural resource—or becomes a recurring trigger for preventable illness. “Public health must be placed above corporate profit,” Oluwafemi concluded. “Because the cost of doing nothing is written not in balance sheets, but in blood pressure readings, insulin prescriptions, and premature deaths.” Until that choice is made, Nigeria’s festivities will continue to arrive with hidden costs—paid quietly, long after the decorations are gone.

February 5, 2026