The National Taskforce on Cervical Cancer Elimination (NTF-CCE) has pledged collaboration with the National Assembly for free screening for common cancers in all public health facilities across the country.
Chairman of NTF-CCE, Prof. Isaac Adewole, made this known in Abuja on Monday at a news conference to mark the officially-designated Nov. 17 as World Cervical Cancer Elimination Day.
Represented by the his deputy, Mr Usman Waziri, Adewole said that Nigeria had made giant strides in the vaccine coverage despite the gaps.
He said that the total number of girls vaccinated with HPV vaccines across Africa in 2022 was about six million before Nigeria introduced its HPV Programme.
Adewole said that since then, Nigeria alone had vaccinated more than 15 million girls, tripling the number of adolescent girls protected against cervical cancer in Africa.
He put the age-standardised incidence of cervical cancer in Nigeria at 29 cases per 100,000, the second most common cancer affecting Nigerian women.
The former minister of health said that the task force had developed a two-volume strategic plan for cervical cancer elimination and launched a national cervical cancer screening guideline.
“Today, 17th November, 2025, stakeholders in the cervical cancer prevention space will light up the national assembly in teal in alignment with WHO’s directives.
“The choice of the National Assembly as the national monument to be illuminated recognised the central role of legislation in improving the health and welfare of Nigerians.
“The task force will work with the leadership of the national assembly to leverage existing laws and, if necessary, enact new regulations to ensure free screening for common cancers in all public health facilities,” he said.
Also speaking, the Chairman, House Committee on Healthcare Services, Rep. Amos Magaji (APC-Kaduna), expressed the 10th Assembly readiness to enact, repeal or amend laws to ensure eradication of cervical and other forms of cancer in the country.
“Right now, we are even working on ensuring that the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund is increased from 1 per cent to 2 per cent, and we are also trying to strengthen the primary healthcare in Nigeria, which is the bedrock of healthcare delivery in the country,” he said.
According to him, cancer is not only a burden for the family of victims but a burden for the nation as well which must be addressed.
The lawmaker tasked the media on educating the general public on the importance of early detection for effective treatment.
