On World Cancer Day, themed ‘United by Unique,’ Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA) has reaffirmed its commitment to the global effort to support those affected by cancer. While advocating for personalised, patient-centred care, CAPPA also called on Nigeria to address the escalating link between cancer and the country’s broken food system.
In a statement to mark the occasion, the organisation highlighted that cancer is no longer a distant threat in Nigeria but a rising epidemic, with at least 72,000 deaths annually and over 120,000 new cases recorded each year, according to the National Institute for Cancer Research and Treatment. The statement pointed out that although genetic and environmental factors contribute, growing evidence indicates that the increase in colorectal, breast, and prostate cancers is closely linked to the food Nigerians eat and how that food is produced.
CAPPA urged the federal and state governments “to implement proactive measures to curb this public health crisis by fixing the cracks in our food system that are contributing to the rising burden of cancer and non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in Nigeria.”
These cracks, the organisation noted, include the unrestricted marketing and consumption of ultra-processed foods, inadequate regulation of tobacco and emerging nicotine products, and excessive intake of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) and salt—major risk factors for cancer and NCDs.
“We urge the government to place renewed focus on strengthening its healthy food policies. These include stricter regulation of tobacco and nicotine products, an upward review of the tobacco control budget, the development of a national guideline to reduce salt consumption including implementation of mandatory salt targets for processed and pre-packaged foods, a review of the SSB tax from the current N10 per litre to 50 per cent of the final retail price of sugary drinks, restrictions on the marketing of unhealthy foods to children, and clear nutrition standards for schools, hospitals and other public institutions,” CAPPA stated.
Recognising tobacco as one of the most significant preventable cancer risks, the statement called for full implementation of the National Tobacco Control Act, inclusion of new and emerging nicotine products in the ban on all forms of tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship, higher tobacco excise taxes adjusted for inflation, and strict enforcement against illicit tobacco and nicotine trade.
The organisation also expressed support for the federal government’s plan to allocate pro-health taxes for cancer prevention and care, emphasising that such measures could help reduce the financial burden of healthcare on citizens.
The statement further urged governments to prioritise cancer control as a key development goal, noting that Nigeria’s health sector, with only 40,000 doctors serving over 200 million people—according to media reports—is under severe strain.
“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 added.
