The National Agency for the Control of AIDS has warned journalists and social media influencers against spreading misinformation and sensational content about HIV, saying inaccurate reports could undermine efforts to prevent new infections in Nigeria.
The agency also warned that stigma and discrimination against people living with HIV could discourage Nigerians from seeking testing, prevention services and treatment.
The Director-General of NACA, Dr Temitope Ilori, gave the warning on Thursday in Lagos during a national training for journalists and social media influencers on HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis.
The training was organised by NACA in collaboration with the World Health Organisation to improve public understanding of PrEP and strengthen the role of the media in HIV prevention.
Ilori said the fight against HIV was not limited to providing medicines and prevention services, stressing that Nigerians also needed accurate and reliable information to make informed decisions about their health.
She described PrEP as an effective HIV prevention option for people who are HIV-negative but may be at risk of acquiring the virus.
According to her, however, the availability of PrEP alone would not be enough to achieve the desired results.
She said its success would depend on public awareness, correct understanding, accessibility and the willingness of eligible people to use it.
“PrEP is a highly effective HIV prevention option for people who are HIV-negative and may be at risk of acquiring HIV. However, its effectiveness in the national response depends not only on availability, but also on awareness, correct understanding, accessibility and willingness to use it,” Ilori said.
She described journalists and social media influencers as important partners in Nigeria’s HIV response because of their ability to reach large audiences and influence public opinion.
With millions of Nigerians getting information through television, radio, newspapers, websites and social media, Ilori said media professionals had an important role to play in ensuring that information about HIV prevention was accurate and responsible.
She warned that sensational reporting and false information could create unnecessary fear and reinforce misconceptions about HIV.
“In the age of misinformation and sensational content, inaccurate information about HIV prevention can create fear, reinforce stigma and discourage people from accessing services,” she said.
The NACA boss therefore urged journalists and influencers to provide information that was accurate, evidence-based, respectful and free from stigma and discrimination.
She said media reports should help Nigerians understand who could use PrEP, how it works, where it could be accessed and the different HIV prevention options available.
“We need you to help answer the questions people may be afraid to ask: Who can use PrEP? How does it work? Where can it be accessed? What are the options available? And perhaps most importantly, how can people protect themselves from HIV without fear or shame?” she said.
PrEP is part of combination HIV prevention and is intended for people who do not have HIV but may have a higher chance of acquiring the virus.
It involves taking HIV prevention medicine before potential exposure to reduce the risk of infection. It is different from a vaccine because it does not provide immunity through vaccination.
The agency said greater public understanding of PrEP was important to enable eligible Nigerians to make informed decisions about their health and choose appropriate HIV prevention methods.
Ilori also cautioned against judgmental language in reporting HIV-related issues.
She urged journalists to focus on the human side of HIV prevention and create platforms where Nigerians could ask questions and seek information without fear of being mocked or judged.
“Your stories should humanise HIV prevention. Your content should encourage conversations rather than judgment. And your platforms should become trusted sources of credible health information,” she said.
The warning comes as Nigeria strengthens its HIV prevention strategy under the National Strategic Plan for HIV and AIDS 2026–2030.
The plan places emphasis on sustainability, innovation, stronger partnerships and greater community participation in the national HIV response.
The renewed focus on prevention is important because Nigeria continues to face a significant HIV burden and needs to reduce new infections while ensuring that people living with the virus have access to testing, treatment and care.
For public health authorities, preventing new infections remains an important part of reducing the long-term impact of HIV on individuals, families and the health system.
However, misinformation can make prevention more difficult by creating confusion about how HIV is transmitted, how it can be prevented and where people can obtain appropriate services.
Social media has added another challenge to the fight against misinformation. While digital platforms allow health authorities to reach millions of people quickly, they also make it possible for false claims and misleading health information to spread rapidly.
NACA is therefore seeking greater cooperation from journalists, broadcasters, bloggers and social media influencers to ensure that accurate information reaches the public.
Ilori said the training should not be regarded as a one-off event but as the beginning of a stronger partnership between NACA, the media and Nigeria’s growing digital community.
She urged participants to use their platforms to challenge misconceptions, promote HIV prevention services and help reduce stigma.
“Together, we can increase demand for HIV prevention services, reduce misinformation, address stigma and ensure that more Nigerians have the knowledge and tools they need to protect themselves from HIV,” she said.
The NACA DG also urged media professionals to avoid presenting HIV as a source of shame or moral failure.
She said responsible reporting should instead encourage people to seek information, get tested when necessary and access prevention and treatment services.
The agency believes that greater public understanding of HIV can help reduce fear and discrimination while encouraging more Nigerians to take preventive measures.
The role of the media is particularly important because many people may have questions about HIV prevention but feel uncomfortable discussing them openly.
Through responsible reporting, interviews with health experts, public education programmes and accurate social media content, media professionals can provide answers to such questions and direct people to reliable services.
The NACA training also highlights the growing importance of digital communication in public health campaigns.
As social media influencers increasingly shape public conversations, their approach to health-related content can have a direct impact on how people understand and respond to diseases and prevention measures.
Ilori called on participants to use that influence responsibly.
“Let us use the power of journalism and digital influence to save lives,” she said.
NACA’s message is that Nigeria’s HIV response cannot depend on medical interventions alone. Accurate information, public trust, community participation and freedom from stigma are also necessary to ensure that prevention services reach those who need them.