Rivers State now leads the country with the highest number of people living with HIV, totaling 208,767, followed closely by Benue State at 202,346, and Akwa Ibom at 161,597, according to the latest data from the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA).
Nationally, more than two million people are currently living with HIV, emphasizing the critical need for continued prevention efforts, widespread testing, and consistent access to treatment.
Lagos, Nigeria’s commercial hub, ranks fourth with 108,649 reported cases. Anambra follows with 100,429 cases, while the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) reports 83,333, one of the highest tallies in the north-central region. Other states with high HIV prevalence include Delta (68,170), Imo (67,944), Enugu (61,028), Edo (60,095), and Taraba (58,460).
In the mid-range, states like Abia (54,655), Kaduna (54,458), Kano (53,972), Plateau (51,736), Borno (50,433), and Oyo (50,063) have notable figures. At the lower end are Kwara (20,259), Kebbi (19,339), Ekiti (18,857), Sokoto (15,223), Ebonyi (14,151), Zamfara (13,253), and Yobe (11,956).
Over the past year, an estimated 43,683 Nigerians died from HIV-related causes, including 28,589 adults (13,650 males and 14,939 females) and 15,094 children aged 0–14. Despite these tragic losses, 1,753,425 people living with HIV now know their status—comprising 1,693,457 adults (579,209 males and 1,114,401 females) and 54,983 children.
The reach of treatment has significantly expanded. A total of 1,735,808 individuals are currently on antiretroviral therapy (ART), including 1,690,057 adults (577,632 males and 1,112,425 females) and 45,751 children. Of those receiving ART, 1,160,256 individuals were tested for viral suppression, with 1,112,339 achieving a suppressed viral load, demonstrating the success of scaling up treatment efforts.
However, gaps remain, particularly in preventing mother-to-child transmission of HIV. Although 93,186 pregnant women were identified as needing ART, only 31,095 received it, highlighting the need for more targeted intervention for this vulnerable group.
Dr. Temitope Ilori, Director-General of NACA, reassured Nigerians that the government is committed to ensuring a steady supply of HIV drugs. “The Federal Executive Council has approved $1.07 billion for healthcare reform under the Human Capital Opportunities for Prosperity and Equity programme, alongside ₦4.8 billion for HIV treatment. The National Assembly also allocated ₦300 billion to the health sector in the 2025 budget,” she said. These efforts aim to close funding gaps and sustain Nigeria’s HIV response.
