Lagos Clarifies HIV Figures, Urges Calm
Lagos says reported HIV figures represent new diagnoses, not new infections, while highlighting stronger testing, treatment and prevention programmes.
The Lagos State Government says recent reports on HIV cases in Lagos were misunderstood and do not reflect the number of new infections.
The Lagos State Government has dismissed reports claiming the state recorded Nigeria’s highest number of new HIV cases in Lagos during 2025. Speaking at a press briefing in Ikeja, Lagos State AIDS Control Agency (LSACA) Chief Executive Officer, Dr Folakemi Animashaun, explained that the widely reported figure refers to newly diagnosed HIV-positive cases, not people who became infected during the year.
She said many people diagnosed in 2025 may have contracted the virus years earlier but only recently underwent testing. Others travelled from different states to access Lagos’ healthcare services or were referred for treatment. She stressed that actual new HIV infections are measured through epidemiological surveillance and scientific modelling, making them different from diagnosis figures.
“The figure widely reported in the media requires important technical interpretation. It does not literally translate to Lagos State recording 10,430 new HIV infections in 2025,” she said.
According to Dr Folakemi Animashaun, misreading HIV cases in Lagos could increase fear, stigma and discrimination while discouraging people from getting tested. She added that the state is working with relevant stakeholders to clarify how the figures were calculated and reported.
Programme data showed that Lagos conducted 504,800 HIV tests in 2025 and identified 11,940 HIV-positive cases, giving a positivity rate of 2.4 per cent. In the first quarter of 2026, the state carried out 179,229 tests, identified 3,390 HIV-positive cases, and reduced the positivity rate to 1.9 per cent.
The agency also reported that 147,904 people were receiving antiretroviral therapy in 2025, with 97 per cent achieving viral suppression. It noted that the Early Infant Diagnosis positivity rate dropped from 5.1 per cent in 2020 to 1.5 per cent in 2025, reflecting continued progress in preventing mother-to-child transmission.
To strengthen its response, Lagos has launched a HIV Response Acceleration Plan running from July to September 2026. The state also announced it has independently procured antiretroviral medicines, becoming the first sub-national government in Nigeria to do so. Dr Folakemi Animashaun urged residents to know their HIV status, use available prevention and treatment services, rely on verified health information, and reject stigma. She concluded, “There is no cause for panic. HIV remains preventable and manageable. With early diagnosis and sustained treatment, people living with HIV can live long, healthy, productive and fulfilling lives.”
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