The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring the safe medical use of radioactive substances in Nigeria, as stakeholders and health experts gathered in Abuja for the first National Dialogue on the safe medical use of radioactive substances.
The Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako, during his keynote address at the event, described the dialogue as “a crucial step towards strengthening Nigeria’s health infrastructure and regulatory framework in the era of expanded cancer treatment and diagnosis.”
He said: “Radioactive substances have several medical applications, mainly in the diagnosis and treatment of various diseases. The use of these materials is strictly regulated to ensure the safety of patients and staff, and protocols must be in place to minimize exposure and manage waste.”
The Minister commended the Nigerian Nuclear Regulatory Authority (NNRA) for its regulatory oversight and described its licensing procedures as “rigorous but absolutely necessary.”
“There are rigorous processes for obtaining NNRA licenses by suppliers and hospitals for the purpose of constructing bunkers, importing, installing and operating equipment that emits ionizing radiation in Nigeria,” he said.
“These processes are vital because compromising safety standards can have devastating consequences.”
Salako warned stakeholders to never “let their guard down,” adding that while ionizing radiation is beneficial for diagnosis and treatment, it also poses risks such as cancer, cataracts, infertility and birth defects.
“Ionizing radiation can threaten national security if not strictly regulated,” he warned.
He revealed that the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), in its July 2025 imPACT review report on Nigeria’s cancer control capacity, praised the regulatory efficiency of the NNRA, but identified shortcomings such as poor identification of radiation zones and absence of diagnostic reference levels.
To address this, the Minister directed the National Nuclear Medicine Technical Working Group (TWG) to work with the NNRA to develop Diagnostic Radiation Reference Levels (DRLs) “in the shortest possible time”.
“A well-established DRL is imperative to minimize patient exposure during diagnostic procedures such as X-rays and CT scans,” he explained.
Highlighting the Tinubu administration’s ongoing investments in cancer care, Salako revealed that the government aims to establish or upgrade at least six Cancer Centers of Excellence annually, ensuring that “by 2031, every state in Nigeria will have at least one comprehensive cancer centre.”
He noted that this expansion “will increase access to care but will also increase exposure risks,” hence the need for robust tracking systems.
“Earlier this year we inaugurated the National Nuclear Medicine Technical Working Group to serve as an advisory body on ionizing radiation in the health sector,” the Minister said, adding that the group had already developed a National Nuclear Medicine Policy and Strategic Plan, which is scheduled to launch in early 2026.
He called on participants to “deliberate and produce actionable policy reports” that will improve radiation safety and oncology services in line with global best practices.
“Let us work together to build a Nigeria where no citizen dies unnecessarily from cancer because advanced care is not available,” he urged.
In his remarks, the President and CEO of the Nigerian Cancer Society (NCS), Prof. Abidemi Omonisi, said the conference theme, “Medical Use of Radioactive Substances in Nigeria”, was appropriate as it focused on a “neglected but vital aspect of cancer treatment”.
He lamented that “radiation and smoking remain the two main environmental factors associated with all cancers” and called for better access to safe radiological equipment.
“We must promote and improve access to safe radiation-emitting equipment in Nigeria,” he said. “Otherwise, the consequences of unsafe practices could be dire.”
Omonisi expressed concern over the “major shortage of anti-cancer drugs” following the exit of key pharmaceutical companies from Nigeria.
“If we are not careful, the few remaining companies involved in the manufacturing and supply of cancer drugs will also exit,” he warned. “This would be devastating because we depend almost entirely on imports.”
He revealed that the Nigerian Cancer Health Fund (NCHF), once a lifeline for patients, has faced “serious setbacks”, making access difficult for many survivors.
“Many cancer patients can no longer afford treatment and now depend on prayers or local remedies,” he said.
The NCS, he revealed, has set up a fact-finding committee led by a stage IV breast cancer survivor and an investigative journalist to investigate barriers to funding cancer care in Nigeria. The report is expected in November.
Professor Omonisi also detailed several achievements of the Society over the past year, including the establishment of a ₦100 billion National Cancer Intervention Fund, the creation of the Nigerian Coalition for Cancer Survivors (NCCS) and securing Nigeria to host the Fifth International Conference of the African Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Cancer Consortium in 2026.
“We now have NCS chapters in all 36 states and the FCT, as well as 14 countries around the world,” he said. “We are positioning Nigeria as a hub for cancer research and care on the continent.”
He thanked the Ministry of Health and the NNRA for their partnership and announced the 2025 NCS Leadership Excellence Award for Salako, in recognition of his “humility, open-door policy and leadership in promoting cancer care.”
Also speaking was the chair of the Technical Working Group on Nuclear Medicine, Dr Kehinde Ololade, who said the group was working to “improve access to radiation equipment, address human resource gaps in radiology and radiological medicine and develop policy briefs to improve safety”.
“We should not work in silos,” he said. “We are collaborating with industry partners, the NNRA, teaching hospitals and other stakeholders to strengthen Nigeria’s nuclear medicine ecosystem.”
In her presentation on behalf of the Director General of the NNRA, Prof. Yau Usman Idris, Director General of Medical Applications, Fatima Ige, provided a snapshot of the country’s radiation facilities, revealing that only a fraction have valid operating licenses.
“Of 15 federal hospitals, only three currently have valid operating licenses,” he revealed. “Many others are still in various stages of construction or permitting.”
He listed challenges facing the sector, including inadequate training, poor maintenance culture and lack of safety protocols at several radiotherapy centres.
“The majority of the facilities were built without the required design and construction licenses,” Ige said. “Inadequate training, lack of written safety policies and insufficient budget allocations are recurring problems.”
He urged hospital managements to prioritize radiation safety and work closely with the NNRA to ensure compliance.
“There must be a written policy statement that places primary importance on security,” he stressed. “Lack of management commitment and poor communication structures remain our biggest obstacles.”
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