The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Ltd (NNPC Ltd) through the NNPC Foundation, its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) arm, is set to launch a free cancer screening campaign to address Nigeria’s rising cancer cases.

The Chief Corporate Communications Officer, NNPC Ltd, Olufemi O. Soneye, made the disclosure in a statement in Abuja, on Tuesday.

It was gathered that the campaign tagged “Cancer Awareness and ZSX Screening” would provide, not just free cancer screening to indigent Nigerians, but also health education, workshops, and consultations with healthcare professionals aimed at empowering individuals to recognize early symptoms, adopt preventive measures, and drive home the importance of regular screenings.

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The campaign which will be organised in collaboration with local health authorities and expert healthcare providers is targeted at reaching about 3,000 individuals across the six geo-political zones with screening centres in Kaduna, Rivers, Ondo, Benue, Imo, and Gombe. The initiative will focus on breast, cervical, and prostate cancer, offering critical early detection support for at-risk populations.

Shedding more light on the objectives of the campaign, the Managing Director of NNPC Foundation, Emmanuella Arukwe, said, “The fight against cancer requires a collective effort and a commitment to ensuring accessible healthcare. This campaign is about more than just screening; it’s about saving lives, building awareness, and creating pathways to preventive care for Nigerians who need it most.

“In a country of over 200 million people, too many still lack access to the early detection tools that could make a life-saving difference. The NNPC Foundation is dedicated to addressing this critical gap by bringing cancer screenings directly to communities. Early detection is crucial to improving survival rates, and this campaign is a vital step towards that goal.”

Cancer remains one of the most formidable health challenges in Nigeria, with over 79,000 cancer-related deaths annually, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). The most common cancers affecting Nigerian men include prostate and liver cancer, while women are predominantly impacted by breast and cervical cancers.

The campaign seeks to counter the trend of late-stage diagnoses, which occur frequently due to limited access to screening facilities, cultural stigmas, and insufficient awareness.

This initiative follows the success of a screening drive in February 2024, where over 200 Abuja residents received free breast, cervical, and prostate cancer screenings.

These free cancer screening campaigns reflect NNPC Ltd.’s broader mission to promote health equity and enhance the well-being of Nigerians across the country through its Foundation.

Osun State Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke has commended progress in the state’s dispute with Thor’s Explorations Limited, as mediation has confirmed that most government’s demands.

Gov Adeleke made the remarks after receiving preliminary report from the state team led by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Mining and Mineral Matters, Prof. Lukuman Adekilekun Jimoda.

According to Gov Adeleke, it is great news that Thors Limited has eventually produced a written certificate of Osun State shares in the Segilola Gold Project. The intermediation has also made Segilola, the operator of Thor Explorations to accept the responsibility of opening all its accounting records for examination on the 3.25-billion-naira tax assessment by Osun state, in line with Personal Income Tax Act section 58(2).

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In his words, “We finally have an open and direct confirmation of Osun shareholding at five percent of what Tropical Mines Limited got. I look forward to hosting the federal mediation team for the formal presentation of the share certificate to the state government, although, our demand is five (5) percent of the value of the gold asset, when it was acquired by Thor Explorations from its interest holders. We also have additional economic interest, coming from Thor’s partnership offering, when it took 88 cadastral units, out of Osun’s exploration license.

“Our decision not to do under the table deal with Thors Explorations has paid off. From the beginning, I said I don’t want gold bars for myself or my family. I want Osun shares as asset of the state and that the taxes be paid into her treasury.

“We know other interest holders got cash and smelter fees during the acquisition by Thor, we are also insistent on immediate payment to the state treasury of the full amount due to the state from her interest in the gold project. The financial implications of our holding must be redeemed without further delay.”

On the update on payment of tax indebtedness to the state by Thors Exploration Limited which required further documentation, the Governor directed his team to submit all required data and records, insisting that “Osun has legitimate PAYE tax demands which Thors firm must fulfil.

“I commend the federal mediation team for acting to enforce compliance with local tax and environmental laws. We are opposed to companies operating with impunity by neglecting observance of state laws. We are only asking Thors to comply with state laws as much as the federal laws. There are other asset classes in Nigeria that are registered with corporate affairs Commission. MTN and Airtel are telecom asset classes and they are registered in Nigeria, let Segilola Gold Project be registered in Nigeria.

“We will submit our environmental inspection report. We will show the world that even a billion dollar cannot achieve the remediation and rehabilitation of our damaged environment. It is actually worrisome that an internationally quoted mining company will neglect and attempt to evade the care for the environment it violated”, the Governor lamented.

Earlier, Prof. Jimoda had submitted a report of the mediation meeting between Thor’s management and the state government under the supervision of the intervention team set up by the Federal Minister of Mines Development, Mr Dele Alake.

He told the Governor that the meeting achieved significant milestones for Osun state especially on the issue of shareholding , payment of monetary implications, continuous discussion on the exact tax indebtedness as well as consensus on the need for environmental remediation.

The adviser, however, said the meeting did not address the many court cases over the disputes. A follow up meeting by disputing parties is to be held in Osun state in due course.

The International Finance Corporation (IFC) has entered into a strategic partnership with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) aimed at enhancing local currency financing to empower private businesses throughout the country.

This agreement, announced on Monday, is set to enable the IFC to better manage currency risks while significantly increasing its investments in Nigerian naira, particularly within priority sectors such as agriculture, housing, infrastructure, energy, small and medium enterprises (SMEs), and the creative economy.

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CBN Governor Yemi Cardoso highlighted the initiative’s ambitious goal, stating that the IFC intends to scale its financing efforts to more than $1 billion in the coming years, addressing the urgent need for local currency support in key economic sectors.

“This pioneering initiative between the IFC and CBN will unlock much-needed long-term local currency financing for private businesses in Nigeria at economically viable rates,” Cardoso said, noting the initiative’s potential to transform the nation’s economic landscape.

The collaboration represents a significant advancement in the CBN’s commitment to fostering innovative development initiatives through reputable third-party service providers, moving beyond traditional intervention strategies.

According to Cardoso, this partnership will act as a vital catalyst for economic growth and will support the Federal Government’s agenda for economic diversification.

IFC Managing Director Makhtar Diop echoed the importance of the agreement, stating that increasing access to affordable local currency financing is essential for small businesses in Nigeria.

“Our partnership with the Central Bank of Nigeria will enhance lending in Nigerian naira, fostering economic growth and creating jobs across the country,” Diop remarked.

He also emphasized the IFC’s commitment to utilizing innovative financial instruments and strengthening partnerships to meet the rising demand for local currency financing in emerging markets.