Nigeria reported 20,838 new human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infections between January and March 2026, with Lagos and Benue states emerging as the most affected, according to figures from the National Data Repository.

Meanwhile, religious leaders and the community of people living with HIV/AIDS in the country have stressed the need to strengthen and integrate HIV services within primary health care and ensure equitable access to innovation, including long-acting injectables for HIV prevention.

Lagos recorded the highest number of cases at 2,298, followed by Benue with 1,949. Akwa Ibom ranked third with 1,159 cases, trailed by Rivers with 1,137 and Anambra with 1,013.

In the northern region, Kaduna posted 842 cases, while Kano recorded 476. Other states with notable figures include Delta (803), Oyo (763), Ogun (751), Plateau (662), Imo (640) and Nasarawa (615).

The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) logged 579 cases, while Abia and Edo reported 527 and 512 cases, respectively. Ebonyi recorded 253 cases, Gombe 252 and Borno 238. Ekiti had 129 cases, Sokoto 110 and Yobe reported the lowest figure at 100.

The Federal Government recently announced a commitment of $346 million in co-financing for 2026 to boost HIV, tuberculosis and malaria interventions. The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Pate, made this known during the national rollout of Lenacapavir, a long-acting injectable used for HIV prevention.

“In the context of this major bilateral funder, the co-financing for 2026 is almost 346 million dollars additional. The President has already directed the Budget Office of the Federation to ensure that it is captured in the 2026 budget,” Pate said.

He noted that the funding would support key areas such as medical supplies, laboratory surveillance, reagents, expansion of primary healthcare and financial protection for citizens.

“That means some of the commodity costs, the laboratory surveillance costs, the reagents, primary health care and expansion of financial protection should be included,” he said.

THE HIV/AIDS community appealed to traditional rulers, religious leaders and Faith-Based Organisations (FBOs) to increase awareness on the reality of the HIV pandemic, promote stigma-free and inclusive communities and mobilise uptake of HIV prevention, care, treatment and promote equitable access to scientific innovation.

Presenting a communiqué issued at the end of Multi-Stakeholder Dialogue with the theme, ‘Faith Forward: Reclaiming HIV in the Health Agenda’, the immediate past president of Church Council of Nigeria (CCN), Most Revd Benebo Fubara, observed that the HIV response was at a critical crossroads due to declining funding, persistent stigma, health system gaps and increasing vulnerability among young people.

The event was organised by the World Council of Churches (WCC), through its HIV, Reproductive Health and Pandemics Programme with support from ViiV Healthcare, in alliance with the Nigerian Network of Religious Leaders Living with or Personally Affected by HIV (NINERELA+).

He expressed concern that HIV remains a significant challenge, with 1.3 million new infections globally and about 48,000 new cases recorded in Nigeria in 2024.

The National Chief Imam of Al-Habibiyyah Islamic Society, Fuad Adeyemi, emphasised that there should not be stigma on anybody because of their HIV status, pointing out new tools that could be used to treat or to control the HIV and AIDS.

He called on the government to act in partnership with faith leaders to end HIV and AIDS in the country.

Speaking on behalf of the International Community of Women Living with HIV West Africa (ICWWA), Oluchi Ndubuisi, stressed the need for united action to end stigma and make services available and accessible for everyone. (The Guardian)