The Lagos State Government has dismissed reports suggesting that the state recorded the highest number of new HIV infections in Nigeria in 2025, saying the widely circulated figure of 10,430 represents newly diagnosed HIV-positive cases and not necessarily new infections that occurred within the year.
Speaking at a press briefing in Ikeja on Thursday, the Chief Executive Officer of the Lagos State AIDS Control Agency (LSACA), Dr. Folakemi Animashaun, said the reports had been misinterpreted and should not be a source of panic among residents.
According to her, newly diagnosed HIV-positive cases include people who may have contracted the virus years earlier but were only recently tested, individuals referred from other states, and people who travelled to Lagos to access testing and treatment services.
She explained that new HIV infections are estimated through epidemiological surveillance and scientific modelling and should not be confused with the number of persons diagnosed within a particular period.
“Inaccurate interpretation of public health data can generate unnecessary fear, increase stigma and discrimination, discourage HIV testing, and ultimately undermine public health interventions,” she said.
Animashaun noted that Lagos, being Nigeria’s most populous state and a major healthcare referral hub, naturally records high volumes of HIV testing, diagnosis, treatment and patient referrals, resulting in higher case detection rates.
Presenting the state’s HIV programme data, she disclosed that Lagos conducted 504,800 HIV tests in 2025, identifying 11,940 HIV-positive cases, with a positivity yield of 2.4 per cent.
She added that in the first quarter of 2026, the state carried out 179,229 HIV tests and identified 3,390 positive cases, while the positivity yield declined further to 1.9 per cent.
According to her, the declining positivity rate despite increased testing is a significant indicator of improving epidemic control in the state.
Animashaun further revealed that 147,904 persons were receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART) across Lagos as of 2025, with 97 per cent of them achieving viral suppression.
She described the achievement as a major public health milestone and evidence of the effectiveness of the state’s HIV treatment programme.
The LSACA chief also highlighted progress in preventing mother-to-child transmission of HIV, noting that the Early Infant Diagnosis positivity rate declined from 5.1 per cent in 2020 to 1.5 per cent in 2025.
She said Lagos had commenced implementation of a comprehensive HIV Response Acceleration Plan for July to September 2026, focusing on expanding testing, improving treatment retention, scaling up community prevention initiatives and strengthening data quality and accountability across all local government areas.
Animashaun disclosed that the state had also introduced HIV prevention interventions, including oral and long-acting injectable pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP).
In a landmark move aimed at ensuring sustainability, she announced that Lagos State had directly procured antiretroviral medicines to guarantee uninterrupted HIV treatment services.
According to her, the first consignment of the state-procured medicines is expected to arrive by the end of August 2026, making Lagos the first sub-national government in Nigeria to independently procure antiretroviral drugs for people living with HIV.
She said the initiative would reduce dependence on donor support, strengthen health system resilience and secure long-term HIV commodity security.
The state, she added, is also exploring opportunities for local production of antiretroviral commodities by leveraging international best practices and collaborating with global partners, including UNAIDS.
Reassuring residents, Animashaun said there was no cause for panic and urged Lagosians to know their HIV status, access available prevention and treatment services, rely on verified information and reject stigma and discrimination.
“HIV remains preventable and manageable. With early diagnosis and sustained treatment, people living with HIV can live long, healthy and productive lives,” she said.
She reaffirmed the state’s commitment to expanding access to quality HIV prevention, testing, treatment and care services through evidence-based policies, strategic partnerships and sustained investment in resilient health systems.
