LAGOS, Aug. 4 (Xinhua) -- No fewer than 4 million Nigerians are currently suffering from the sickle cell anemia while about 2 million are carriers, an official with National Biotechnology Development Agency has said.

    Alex Akpa, director of the agency, said over 100,000 children are born with the disease every year, according to a report by the Guardian newspaper.

    He urged the Nigerian Federal Government to establish a sickle cell center where bone marrow transplant could be carried out to treat the disease.