‌The Lagos State Government (LASG) has dismissed reports suggesting that the state recorded 10,430 new HIV infections in 2025, while announcing the commencement of the procurement of Antiretroviral (ARV) medicines.

The announcement and clarification came  during a recent press briefing at the Bagauda Kaltho Press Centre in Lagos, where the Chief Executive Officer of the Lagos State AIDS Control Agency (LSACA), Dr. Folakemi Animashaun, cautioned that the reports had been misinterpreted and could trigger unnecessary public concern.

In what the state described as a major policy milestone aimed at ensuring long-term sustainability, LSACA announced the commencement of direct procurement of antiretroviral (ARV) medicines.

Animashaun said the first batch of state-funded ARVs is expected to arrive by the end of August 2026, making Lagos the first state government in Nigeria to independently finance and procure HIV treatment medicines.

“This marks a historic milestone, making Lagos State the first sub-national government in Nigeria to independently procure antiretroviral medicines for people living with HIV,” she said.

She explained that the initiative is intended to reduce reliance on donor-funded programmes and strengthen the continuity of HIV treatment amid evolving global health financing condition.

Dr. Animashaun explained that the widely circulated figure refers to newly diagnosed HIV-positive cases rather than individuals who contracted the virus during the year.

According to Animashaun, the 10,430 figure represents people who tested positive during the reporting period, many of whom may have acquired the virus years earlier but only recently underwent HIV testing.

“The number widely reported refers to newly diagnosed HIV-positive cases, not necessarily new infections that occurred within the year. These are two very different public health indicators,” Animashaun said.

She explained that Lagos, being Nigeria’s most populous state and a major healthcare referral centre, naturally records significantly higher testing volumes and receives patient referrals from across the country. As a result, the state’s diagnosis figures are typically higher than those of many other states.

“Stronger surveillance systems and wider access to healthcare services invariably result in higher case detection and should not be misconstrued as evidence of worsening epidemic control,” she added.

HIV Testing and Treatment Indicators Show Progress

Providing an update on the state’s HIV response, Animashaun disclosed that Lagos conducted 504,800 HIV tests in 2025, identifying 11,940 positive cases, which translated to a 2.4 per cent positivity rate.

She also reported that during the first quarter of 2026, the state carried out 179,229 HIV tests, detecting 3,390 HIV-positive cases, while the positivity rate declined to 0.9 per cent.

“The declining positivity rate despite expanded testing is a significant epidemiological indicator that reflects improving epidemic control,” she said.

Animashaun further revealed that 147,904 people are currently receiving antiretroviral treatment (ART) across Lagos, with 97 per cent achieving viral suppression, describing it as one of Nigeria’s strongest HIV treatment outcomes.

She 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.

The LSACA boss also disclosed that Lagos is exploring the local production of HIV commodities in collaboration with the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) while studying Kenya’s approach to reinforce supply chain resilience.

Residents Urged to Continue Accessing HIV Services

Animashaun encouraged Lagos residents to remain calm and continue utilising available HIV testing, prevention and treatment services, warning against stigma and discrimination associated with the disease.

She stressed that HIV remains both preventable and manageable, emphasizing that early diagnosis and sustained treatment enable people living with HIV to lead healthy and productive lives.

“Lagos is not defined by the number of people it tests. Lagos is defined by the strength of its response.”