The Federal Government has announced plans to promote technology transfer and the local assembly and servicing of radiotherapy and medical imaging equipment in Nigeria by 2030, as part of efforts to strengthen cancer prevention, diagnosis and treatment.
The Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr Iziaq Adekunle Salako, disclosed the plan on Saturday, August 15, following Nigeria’s participation in the LINK Global Summit on Innovation and Practice in Oncology in Beijing, China.
According to the minister, the government’s objective goes beyond importing sophisticated medical equipment. Nigeria wants to develop domestic capacity to assemble, maintain and service critical cancer-treatment technologies within the country.
Government seeks stronger China partnership
Salako said Nigeria is working to deepen cooperation with Chinese partners in areas including radiotherapy, medical technology, research, training and equipment maintenance.
As part of the collaboration, Nigeria signed a strategic cooperation agreement with LinaTech, a Chinese company specialising in advanced radiation therapy solutions. The partnership is expected to support technology transfer and expand Nigeria’s capacity to provide modern cancer treatment.
The minister also called for greater cooperation in clinical trials and cancer research to improve understanding of cancers affecting African populations.
Focus on local capacity
Salako said Nigeria’s ambitions for 2030 include the local assembly and servicing of radiotherapy and imaging equipment.
The government is also relying on incentives, including zero-duty and zero-VAT measures for health manufacturing, to encourage investment and build domestic production capacity.
The minister stressed that acquiring medical equipment alone would not be sufficient without trained professionals who can operate and maintain the technology.
He emphasised the need for training, in-country servicing and reliable access to spare parts to ensure that expensive medical equipment remains functional.
Artificial intelligence and modern cancer treatment
The Federal Government is also looking to incorporate newer technologies into cancer care.
According to Salako, Nigeria wants to explore artificial intelligence-assisted treatment planning, adaptive radiotherapy and tele-oncology connections between Nigerian and Chinese cancer centres.
Such technologies could support more precise treatment planning and enable specialists to collaborate across borders, potentially improving access to expertise for patients in Nigeria.
Nigeria’s cancer burden
The push comes as cancer remains a significant health challenge in Nigeria.
The Federal Ministry of Health said Nigeria recorded an estimated 127,763 new cancer cases and 79,542 cancer deaths in 2022. Breast, prostate and cervical cancers accounted for more than 40 per cent of cancer mortality, according to figures cited by the minister.
Salako said Nigeria’s mortality-to-incidence ratio improved from 62.3 per cent in 2022 to 59.6 per cent in 2024, but acknowledged that significant work remains necessary to improve cancer outcomes.
The Federal Government has also been expanding cancer infrastructure and plans to procure additional linear accelerators between 2027 and 2029 to increase access to radiotherapy services.
Training remains a key priority
Beyond equipment, the government says developing skilled personnel will be critical to the success of the programme.
Salako said Nigeria wants the country’s cancer centres of excellence, the National Institute for Cancer Research and Treatment (NICRAT) and tertiary hospitals to establish stronger links with Chinese cancer institutions.
The Radiotherapy Working Group of the China-Africa Hospital Alliance is also expected to support the development of a clinical training base in Nigeria that could serve as a regional hub for advanced radiotherapy training.
Looking ahead to 2030
The government’s plan represents an attempt to reduce Nigeria’s dependence on imported cancer-treatment equipment while strengthening local technical expertise.
If successfully implemented, local assembly and servicing could make it easier to maintain essential equipment, reduce prolonged downtime and improve the sustainability of cancer-treatment centres.
However, the success of the initiative will depend not only on acquiring technology but also on sustained investment in healthcare infrastructure, electricity, specialist training, equipment maintenance, research and patient access.
For millions of Nigerians affected by cancer, the ultimate measure of the programme will be whether these investments translate into earlier diagnosis, more reliable treatment and better health outcomes.
