Nigeria recorded 20,838 new cases of HIV between January and March 2026, with Lagos State and Benue State accounting for the highest numbers, according to data from the National Data Repository.
Lagos led with 2,298 infections, followed by Benue with 1,949 cases. Akwa Ibom State recorded 1,159 infections, while Rivers State and Anambra State reported 1,137 and 1,013 cases respectively.
In the northern region, Kaduna State recorded 842 new infections, while Kano State reported 476 cases. Other states with notable figures include Delta State (803), Oyo State (763), Ogun State (751), Plateau State (662), Imo State (640), and Nasarawa State (615).
The Federal Capital Territory recorded 579 cases, while Abia State and Edo State reported 527 and 512 infections respectively. Ebonyi State, Gombe State, and Borno State recorded 253, 252, and 238 cases respectively. The lowest figures came from Ekiti State (129), Sokoto State (110), and Yobe State (100).
In response to the rising numbers, the Federal Government announced $346 million in co-financing for 2026 to strengthen interventions against HIV, tuberculosis, and malaria.
The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Muhammad Pate, disclosed this during the national rollout of Lenacapavir, a long-acting injectable used for HIV prevention.
Pate said, “The funding, already directed by the President to be included in the 2026 budget, will support medical supplies, laboratory surveillance, reagents, expansion of primary healthcare, and financial protection for citizens.”
He emphasized Nigeria’s shift toward domestic health financing, noting that, “Nigeria is increasingly focusing on domestic funding amid constrained global health financing.”
Highlighting the importance of innovation, the minister added that advancements such as Lenacapavir would strengthen ongoing efforts to control HIV, tuberculosis, and malaria across the country.