The National Task Force on Cervical Cancer Elimination (NTF-CCE) has revealed that around 60 million women in Nigeria are currently at risk of developing cervical cancer, a disease that is both preventable and treatable.
This disclosure was made in Abuja by Professor Isaac Adewole, Chairman of the NTF-CCE, during the official launch of the Partnership to Eliminate Cervical Cancer in Nigeria (PECCIN).
Prof. Adewole highlighted the urgency of the situation, stating that 22 women die daily from the disease.
“Women living with HIV face a sixfold increased risk of developing cervical cancer compared to women in the general population. 80% of women with cervical cancer currently present late, when treatment and complete recovery are no longer possible,” he said.
Outlining the objectives of PECCIN, Prof. Adewole explained that the initiative aims to empower state-level governments to lead the expansion of cervical cancer elimination activities and to promote multi-sectoral coordination.
He further revealed PECCIN’s ambitious targets: vaccinating eight million girls and screening another eight million women annually, with a cumulative goal of screening 15 million Nigerian women by 2027.
First Lady Senator Oluremi Tinubu, who officially flagged off the initiative, stressed the importance of collaborative efforts across all sectors:
“We count on you all to ensure that this collaboration succeeds. To our healthcare providers, you are the face of hope for millions of Nigerian women. I appeal to you to continue to serve with professionalism and compassion. Our women and girls are counting on you.”
She added that if the partnership succeeds, at least 60,000 deaths from cervical cancer could be prevented in the next five years alone.
The Minister of State for Health, Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako, lamented that despite being preventable, cervical cancer remains the second most common cancer and second leading cause of cancer deaths among Nigerian women, largely due to ignorance, late diagnosis, and inadequate treatment infrastructure.
He affirmed the federal government’s resolve to shift the narrative, noting that the introduction of the HPV vaccine in 2023 has already led to the vaccination of 14 million girls nationwide.
Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, represented by Imo State Governor Hope Uzodinma, reiterated the commitment of governors to supporting the campaign and eliminating cervical cancer.
Also speaking, Vice Chair of NTF-CCE, Dr. Zainab Shinkafi-Bagudu, revealed that Nigeria records about 12,000 new cases and 8,000 deaths from cervical cancer annually. She emphasized the need for broad-based collaboration:
“Ending cervical cancer in Nigeria requires collective efforts, not just the work of government alone.”
Dr. Bagudu further remarked:
“2025 is a year of precision medicine. It is a year of artificial intelligence. It is a year where no girl, no woman should die with cervical cancer.”
PECCIN brings together key stakeholders from the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, World Health Organisation (WHO), National Institute for Cancer Research and Treatment (NICRAT), Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), NPHCDA, Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI), Private Sector Health Alliance of Nigeria (PSHAN), and the Gates Foundation.
