United Nigeria Airlines adds voluntary cancer donations to online ticket bookings

United Nigeria Airlines has introduced voluntary donations on its online booking platform, and plans in-flight appeals, to raise money for cancer patients in partnership with the Nigerian Cancer Society (NCS), according to Leadership and Daily Trust.

The partnership was formalised on Wednesday in Lagos through a working agreement. Passengers who book through the airline's website will be able to donate to the society, and the airline is also working on an onboard donation system so that passengers can give during flights.

The airline's Managing Director, Osita Okonkwo, said all donations would be handled electronically through a dedicated account, which rules out cash transactions. "Cancer treatment is extremely expensive," he said. "It is what we call a catastrophic disease. In some cases, we have seen an entire community contribute to save a life." He added that people "shouldn't die of cancer ideally if their cases are discovered very early".

On accountability, Okonkwo said both organisations would jointly decide which programmes and interventions the money supports and would carry out monthly reconciliation of accounts and activities funded by the initiative. "With United Nigeria and the Nigerian Cancer Society, every cent that is donated will be fully accounted for," he said, adding that the public would be updated from time to time on what has been raised and how it is used.

He said the airline chose the society after assessing its activities and finding that it has the structure and expertise to manage cancer interventions. According to Okonkwo, the airline carries more than 1.7 million passengers a year, which gives it a significant opportunity to raise funds and increase public awareness.

The President of the Nigerian Cancer Society, Professor Abidemi Omonisi, said the partnership comes at a time when the country's response to cancer is held back by inadequate funding, poor healthcare infrastructure, limited access to specialised treatment and the high cost of medication.

He named insufficient diagnostic facilities and limited access to modern medical technology as major obstacles to early detection, and noted that some hospitals still depend on external laboratories for cancer tests, which causes delays and possible misdiagnosis. Investment in advanced diagnostic equipment, including genetic testing facilities, would help identify people with inherited cancer risks and support early screening, he said.

The donations are optional, and the reports do not give a fundraising target or a start date for the in-flight appeals. Whether the scheme raises meaningful sums will depend on how many passengers choose to give and how openly the monthly accounts are published.