Lagos State says reports claiming it had Nigeria’s highest number of new HIV infections in 2025 are false and misleading.
Speaking in Alausa on Thursday, Lagos State Aids Control Agency (LSACA) CEO, Dr Folakemi Animashaun, clarified that the 10,430 figure circulating online refers to newly diagnosed cases, not new infections. Many of those people contracted HIV years ago and were only tested recently. Others came to Lagos from other states to access treatment.
“These are two very different public health indicators,” Animashaun said. “Mixing them up fuels fear and stigma, and could stop people from getting tested.
She explained that Lagos naturally records higher numbers because it’s a major healthcare hub with stronger testing and referral systems. That means more cases are detected, not that the epidemic is worse.
The real data:
- 2025: 504,800 tests done, 11,940 positives, 2.4% positivity rate
- Q1 2026: 179,229 tests, 3,390 positives, 1.9% positivity rate
The drop in positivity rate, even with more testing, shows HIV control efforts are working, she said. Lagos also has 147,904 people on ART with 97% viral suppression.
Mother-to-child transmission fell from 5.1% in 2020 to 1.5% in 2025.
To stay ahead, Lagos launched a 3-month HIV Response Acceleration Plan for July–September 2026 and became the first state to independently buy antiretrovirals.
The first consignment arrives in August 2026. The state is also scaling up PrEP and exploring local production of ARVs with partners like UNAIDS.
The bottom line from LSACA: Don’t panic. Test for free, ignore stigma, and use only verified health info. “Lagos is not defined by the number of people it tests. Lagos is defined by the strength of its response,” Animashaun said.
