As the global community observes World Cancer Day 2026 under the theme United by Unique, Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA) is calling on the Nigerian government to address the country’s rising cancer rates by overhauling a broken food system and tightening regulations on public health risks.
Data from the National Institute for Cancer Research and Treatment indicates that Nigeria faces over 120,000 new cancer cases and at least 72,000 deaths annually. While genetics and environment are factors, CAPPA points to a growing body of evidence linking the rise in colorectal, breast, and prostate cancers to the consumption of ultra-processed foods, salt, and sugar-sweetened beverages.
The organization argues that Nigeria’s current healthcare infrastructure, which reportedly operates with only 40,000 doctors for a population exceeding 200 million, cannot keep pace with the epidemic through treatment alone. Instead, the group is advocating for a shift toward aggressive prevention-focused policies.
Specific recommendations from the group include increasing the sugar-sweetened beverage tax from the current N10 per litre to 50 per cent of the retail price and implementing mandatory salt targets for pre-packaged foods. The group also called for stricter enforcement of the National Tobacco Control Act, citing tobacco as a leading preventable risk factor.
In a statement marking the day, CAPPA emphasized that the government must prioritize healthy food policies and clear nutrition standards in public institutions like schools and hospitals to curb the burden of non-communicable diseases.
“Nigeria cannot treat its way out of the cancer crisis. Prevention-focused policies, especially those related to tobacco, food, and alcohol, offer perhaps the biggest and most cost-effective gains. When combined with early detection, health financing, and accountability, they can save thousands of lives each year,” CAPPA stated.
The organization also expressed support for federal plans to earmark pro-health taxes specifically for cancer prevention and care, a move intended to reduce the high out-of-pocket expenses currently faced by Nigerian patients.
