The federal government and the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA) signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to enhance oncology care in the country.

The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Ali Pate, signed the MoU along with the managing director of NSIA, Aminu Umar-Sadiq, in Abuja.

Mr Pate said the MoU would aid in the procurement of oncology equipment for the management of cancer.

He added that upgrading the equipment in the six cancer centres in six designated teaching hospitals in all geopolitical zones of the country was an important milestone.

According to him, non-communicable diseases (NCDs), including cancer, are among the fastest-growing disease burdens in the country.

He explained that NSIA, based on its relationship with manufacturers of cancer treatment equipment, is to execute a similar project like it did in Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) in other teaching hospitals.

Mr Pate said the government oncology initiative hitherto initiated with other hospitals lasted for years without success.

“But this is a different path where we’re using a government-owned entity (NSIA) to execute, where the entity will go directly to the manufacturers, taking away the middlemen.

“My understanding is that we have almost a 30 per cent discount on the cost of equipment by going to the manufacturers directly, a clear value added of almost N10 billion saved because of the discount,” the minister said.

Mr Pate said the initial appropriation approved for the teaching hospitals about four years ago remained at N17.9 billion, while in 2024, the federal government appropriated N20 billion for it, totalling N37.9 billion.

He, however, urged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and civil society organisations (CSOs) in the cancer space to ensure all funds for the initiative were monitored to ensure accountability.

On his part, Mr Umar-Sadiq of NSIA said the organisation had seen first-hand through its facility, the NSIA-LUTH cancer centre, the significant impact a localised world-class oncology facility can have on Nigerians.

“It is truly a pleasure for the NSIA to play its own small part in getting this done. Victory can only be declared when the minister commissions these six centres in the next 18 to 24 months,” he said.

The chief medical director CMD) of Jos University Teaching Hospital, Pokop Bupwadata, said the strategy of bringing in NSIA would ensure sustainability in managing the six centres.

The CMD, LUTH, Wasiu Adeyemo, said that when the centre started, it was turbulent; however, with the involvement of the NSIA, it became successful.

The signing of the MoU aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s directive to upgrade the six cancer centres in the country’s six geopolitical zones to enhance cancer treatment. 

(NAN)