Lagos and Benue top new HIV cases as young women face higher risk
Nigeria’s latest HIV statistics reveal that Lagos and Benue have the highest number of new infections, with young women particularly affected. The National Data Repository highlights strong national progress in diagnosis, treatment, and viral suppression. However, the data also shows significant regional and gender disparities. The findings point to the need for targeted interventions to address these gaps.
Highlights
- Lagos leads in new HIV-positive cases, followed by Benue, with young women recording higher infection rates than males across most age groups.
- Nationally, 95% of people living with HIV know their status, 95% of those are on treatment, and 95% of those on treatment are virally suppressed.
- A 10-year trend shows new HIV cases peaked at 464,355 in 2020, then dropped sharply to 21,389 in 2026, marking a 90.8% decline from 2025 (111,513).
- The South West region has the highest number of new cases, while the North West reports the lowest; treatment coverage is highest in the South South.
- Despite progress, higher infection rates among females and in certain states highlight the need for region- and age-specific strategies.
