The Nigerian government has launched a new blood-based cancer screening tool called Oncoseek, designed to detect nine types of high-risk cancers at an early stage. The announcement was made on Friday by the Minister of State for Health, Dr. Iziaq Kunle Salako, during a workshop held in Abeokuta by the National Nuclear Medicine Technical Working Group.
Dr. Salako explained that Oncoseek can help identify early signs of cancer, including breast, liver, lung, stomach, colorectal, ovarian, pancreatic, lymphoma, and esophageal cancers. The tool works by analyzing blood samples and helps in determining which patients may need further testing. He described it as a vital step forward in improving cancer outcomes in the country.
He urged medical professionals to adopt this test and make cancer screening more accessible. He also highlighted the growing cancer burden in Nigeria and stressed the need to use every available method to detect and treat it early.
The minister revealed that the federal government is building six cancer treatment centres across the country’s geopolitical zones and plans to add more under the 2025 budget. The Federal Medical Centre in Abeokuta has been selected to receive one of the upcoming cancer centres of excellence.
Dr. Salako also pointed out that Nigeria now has a dedicated agency for cancer research—the National Institute for Cancer Research and Treatment. He emphasized that nuclear medicine remains underused in the country, despite its potential in diagnosing and treating serious illnesses like cancer. According to him, many cancer cases in Nigeria are detected late because symptoms often resemble other illnesses, which leads to delays in proper treatment.
He called for greater investment in nuclear medicine and more collaboration with global partners like the International Atomic Energy Agency to improve healthcare delivery nationwide.
