Former Anambra State Governor and 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has called for a major expansion of cancer care infrastructure across Nigeria, saying access to treatment should not depend on a person’s income or location.
Obi made the call after meeting cancer survivors, an encounter he described as “deeply moving” and a reminder of the urgent need to improve cancer care in the country.
According to him, behind every cancer statistic is a Nigerian whose survival should not depend on having the financial capacity to seek treatment abroad.
Obi advocated the establishment of at least five fully equipped, specialised cancer centres in each of Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones, alongside stronger investments in cancer prevention, screening, early detection, research and affordable treatment.
He said the objective should be to ensure that no Nigerian loses their life because specialised care is unavailable nearby, a diagnosis was made too late or treatment is beyond their financial means.
The goal is simple: no Nigerian should die because care is too far away, diagnosis came too late, or treatment is unaffordable,” Obi stated.
The former governor stressed that the experiences of cancer survivors demonstrate the human consequences of healthcare policies and decisions.
He argued that healthcare should be treated as a fundamental necessity rather than a luxury, insisting that access to life-saving cancer treatment should not be determined by geography or income.
“Healthcare is not a luxury. Survival should not depend on geography or income. Cancer care should not be a privilege. It should be a right,” he said.
Obi concluded by reaffirming his vision of a “New Nigeria,” stating: “A New Nigeria is POssible.”
