The Lagos State Government has announced that it will become the first state in Nigeria to independently procure antiretroviral (ARV) medicines for people living with HIV, with the first shipment of the drugs expected to arrive before the end of August.
The move is expected to reduce the state’s dependence on international donor agencies and ensure that thousands of people living with HIV continue to receive life-saving treatment without interruption.
The Chief Executive Officer of the Lagos State AIDS Control Agency (LSACA), Dr. Folakemi Animashaun, disclosed this on Thursday during a press briefing held in Alausa, Ikeja.
She described the initiative as a major milestone in Lagos’ efforts to strengthen its healthcare system and guarantee sustainable HIV treatment for residents.
According to her, the procurement reflects Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s commitment to protecting public health and ensuring that people living with HIV have continuous access to medication regardless of changes in foreign donor support.
“We are pleased to inform Lagosians that the first consignment of these state-procured ARV medicines is expected to arrive in Lagos by the end of August 2026,” Animashaun said.
“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 the initiative was designed to strengthen the state’s health security and ensure that HIV treatment programmes remain sustainable in the long term.
For many years, Nigeria’s HIV response has relied heavily on support from international partners such as the United States President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), the Global Fund and other donor organisations. While these partnerships have helped millions of Nigerians access treatment, health experts have repeatedly warned that greater domestic funding is necessary to guarantee the sustainability of HIV programmes.
Animashaun said Lagos was taking proactive steps to address that concern.
She also disclosed that the state was working with the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) to explore the possibility of producing antiretroviral medicines locally.
According to her, Lagos plans to draw lessons from Kenya’s pharmaceutical and health commodity management system to strengthen local production.
She explained that domestic production of HIV medicines would reduce supply chain challenges, lower treatment costs and improve long-term access to life-saving drugs.
“Furthermore, the state is exploring opportunities to strengthen local health security through sustainable antiretroviral commodity production by leveraging international best practices, including lessons from Kenya’s pharmaceutical and health commodity management experience, while collaborating with global partners such as UNAIDS,” she said.
Beyond the announcement on HIV medicines, the Lagos State AIDS Control Agency also responded to recent reports suggesting that Lagos recorded the highest number of new HIV infections in Nigeria.
The clarification followed the publication of the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare’s State of the Health of the Nation Report 2025, which listed Lagos as having 10,430 new HIV infections, the highest figure among all states.
Animashaun argued that the data had been widely misunderstood.
According to her, the figure being circulated refers to newly diagnosed HIV-positive cases rather than people who became infected with the virus during the year.
She stressed that the two indicators are different and should not be interpreted in the same way.
“The figure widely reported in the media requires important technical interpretation. It does not literally translate to the state recording 10,430 new HIV infections in 2025,” she explained.
“The number that has been widely circulated refers to newly diagnosed HIV-positive cases, not necessarily new HIV infections that occurred within the year. These are two very different public health indicators.”
She said many of those diagnosed may have contracted HIV several years ago but only recently took an HIV test.
The figure, she added, also includes people who travelled to Lagos from other states for testing and treatment, as well as patients referred to the state because of its advanced healthcare facilities.
According to Animashaun, new HIV infections are estimated through scientific surveillance and epidemiological modelling rather than through routine testing records alone.
She warned that misunderstanding public health data could create unnecessary fear among residents and increase the stigma associated with HIV.
“This distinction is critical because inaccurate interpretation of public health data can generate unnecessary fear, increase stigma and discrimination, discourage HIV testing and ultimately undermine public health interventions,” she said.
Animashaun disclosed that the Lagos State Government had already begun discussions with relevant stakeholders to better understand the methodology and assumptions used in compiling the federal report.
She maintained that Lagos’ position as Nigeria’s most populous state and one of the country’s biggest healthcare referral centres naturally results in higher numbers of HIV tests and diagnoses.
“As Nigeria’s most populous state, commercial centre and one of the country’s largest healthcare referral hubs, Lagos naturally records some of the highest volumes of HIV testing, diagnosis, treatment and patient referrals,” she said.
“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.”
The agency also released programme data showing encouraging progress in the state’s HIV response.
According to the figures, Lagos conducted 504,800 HIV tests in 2025 and identified 11,940 positive cases, representing a positivity rate of 2.4 per cent.
In the first quarter of 2026, the state carried out 179,229 HIV tests and recorded 3,390 positive cases, with the positivity rate dropping to 1.9 per cent.
Animashaun described the decline as evidence that the state’s HIV prevention and treatment strategies were producing positive results.
“The declining positivity rate, despite expanded testing, is a significant epidemiological indicator that reflects improving epidemic control,” she said.
She further revealed that 147,904 people were receiving antiretroviral treatment across Lagos as of 2025, while 97 per cent of them had achieved viral suppression. Viral suppression means the amount of HIV in a person’s blood has been reduced to very low levels through consistent treatment, allowing them to live healthier lives while significantly reducing the risk of transmitting the virus.
She also highlighted progress in preventing mother-to-child transmission of HIV.
According to her, the Early Infant Diagnosis positivity rate declined from 5.1 per cent in 2020 to 1.5 per cent in 2025, indicating significant improvements in protecting babies born to HIV-positive mothers.
As part of efforts to sustain these gains, the agency announced the launch of an HIV Response Acceleration Plan covering July to September 2026 across all 20 local government areas and the state’s 57 Local Council Development Areas.
The program will focus on expanding HIV testing, improving patient retention in treatment, strengthening community-based prevention campaigns and increasing access to oral and long-acting injectable pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), which helps prevent HIV infection among people at high risk.
Animashaun urged residents not to panic over recent reports but instead take advantage of available testing and treatment services.
“There is no cause for panic. Know your HIV status, access available prevention, testing, treatment and care services, rely only on verified public health information, and reject every form of stigma and discrimination,” she said.
“HIV remains preventable and manageable. With early diagnosis and sustained treatment, people living with HIV can live long, healthy, productive and fulfilling lives.”