President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the establishment and upgrade of six federal oncology centres across Nigeria’s geopolitical zones.

Olusegun Dada, the special assistant to the president on social media said the approval is part of a major push to improve cancer diagnosis, treatment, and care, and reduce medical tourism.

According Dada, the initiative, valued at approximately N37.4 billion, is being implemented by the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare in partnership with the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA).

It builds on the earlier success of demonstration projects such as the NSIA-LUTH Cancer Centre and aims to establish a broader network of modern oncology and nuclear medicine facilities.

The six approved cancer treatment centres are:

1 University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH), Benin City

2 Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital (ABUTH), Zaria

3 Federal Teaching Hospital Katsina (FTHK)

4 University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH), Ituku-Ozalla, Enugu (Nsukka)

5 Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH)

6 Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Lagos

These facilities are equipped with advanced technology, including linear accelerators and other radiotherapy and diagnostic tools, to provide comprehensive cancer care closer to patients nationwide.

As of mid-2025, three of the six centres have been completed and commissioned.

The facilities at Federal Teaching Hospital Katsina, University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital Enugu, and University of Benin Teaching Hospital Benin.

The Katsina centre features cutting-edge TrueBeam technology for precise and efficient radiation therapy.

The commissionings represent tangible progress in the administration’s healthcare agenda.

A video footage shared by Dada also showed the physical commissioning showing officials, health workers, and community leaders celebrating the milestone.

The Ogun State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of “growing anxiety” over the political influence of its candidate, Oladipupo Adebutu, ahead of the 2027 governorship election.

The party asserted that Ogun residents are ready for a new direction and that no amount of propaganda can “stop the winds of change already blowing across the state.”

This was contained in a statement issued on Sunday by the Ogun PDP Youth Leader, Comrade Lukman Ejalonibu.

Ejalonibu insisted that the recent comments by the Special Assistant on Youth Development to Ogun State Governor, Comrade Olamide Lawal, about Adebutu exposed contradictions in the ruling party’s position.

Recall that Olamide Lawal, while speaking on a television programme, said Adebutu is not a threat to the APC and lacks the political strength and performance record required to challenge the ruling party in the state.

Lawal also noted that the state’s prevailing zoning considerations diminish any prospect of Adebutu succeeding Governor Dapo Abiodun.

Responding, the PDP youth leader argued that the APC’s focus on Adebutu confirms his “growing popularity, acceptance and connection with the people of Ogun State.”

He said, “It is both amusing and contradictory that the same APC which claims Adebutu is ‘not a threat’ continues to devote so much time and energy to discussing him. No political party spends valuable airtime attacking an opponent it considers irrelevant.”

Ejalonibu also faulted attempts to downplay Adebutu’s record as a former member of the House of Representatives, citing his constituency interventions, educational support programmes, youth empowerment and community projects.

He described Adebutu as “an authentic son of Ogun State whose roots, commitment and contributions to the state are well known,” adding that his relationship with the people predates his electoral ambitions.

He asserted that the PDP’s focus remains on providing credible alternatives and mobilising the people around responsible, inclusive and people-centred governance.

The PDP Youth Leader also criticised the APC for “hiding behind zoning arguments” instead of engaging in debates on governance, unemployment, infrastructure and economic hardship.

“Democracy is a contest of ideas, competence and public trust, not excuses created out of fear. If Hon. Oladipupo Adebutu truly poses no threat to the APC, there would be no reason for the ruling party and its spokespersons to make him the centrepiece of their political conversations,” Ejalonibu added.