The Lagos State AIDS Control Agency (LSACA) has clarified that reports stating Lagos recorded 10,430 HIV cases in 2025 do not mean that 10,430 people were newly infected with the virus during the year.
The agency issued the clarification after reports based on the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare's State of the Health of the Nation Report 2025 showed Lagos recording the highest number of HIV cases among Nigeria's 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
According to the report, Lagos recorded 10,430 diagnosed cases, followed by Rivers (6,287), Kano (6,106), Akwa Ibom (5,413), Taraba (4,854), and Benue (4,804). Other states with high figures included Anambra (4,468), Kaduna (3,659), Adamawa (2,989), and the Federal Capital Territory (2,764). Ekiti State recorded the lowest figure with 462 cases.
In its statement, LSACA explained that the reported number refers to people who tested positive through HIV testing programmes during 2025. The agency stressed that many of those diagnosed may have been living with HIV for years before they were tested and officially recorded.
The agency emphasized that the figure should not be interpreted as 10,430 new infections occurring within a single year. Instead, it reflects the number of people who were identified through expanded HIV testing and surveillance efforts across the state.
LSACA also noted that Lagos is Nigeria's commercial centre and the country's most populous state, attracting millions of residents, workers, students, and visitors who access healthcare services within the state. This, it said, naturally contributes to a higher number of diagnosed cases compared to many other states.
According to the agency, Lagos has one of Nigeria's strongest HIV testing, surveillance, and reporting systems. As more testing centres become available and more people voluntarily check their HIV status, previously undiagnosed cases are discovered and linked to treatment.
LSACA described the figures as evidence of the state's successful efforts to expand HIV testing and improve case detection rather than a sign that the HIV epidemic is worsening or out of control in Lagos.
Meanwhile, data from the National Data Repository showed that Nigeria recorded 20,838 newly diagnosed HIV cases between January and March 2026. During that period, Lagos recorded 2,298 cases, followed by Benue (1,949), Akwa Ibom (1,159), Rivers (1,137), and Anambra (1,013).
The clarification comes as the Federal Government continues to strengthen Nigeria's response to HIV. In March 2026, the government announced a 346 million-dollar co-financing commitment for HIV, tuberculosis, and malaria programmes for 2026. It also launched Lenacapavir, a long-acting injectable medication designed to help prevent HIV infection.
Health officials continue to encourage Nigerians to know their HIV status through regular testing, stressing that early diagnosis allows people living with HIV to begin treatment quickly and live long, healthy lives.
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