The Lagos State Government has dismissed reports claiming the state recorded Nigeria’s highest number of new HIV infections in 2025, saying the figures have been wrongly interpreted and could fuel fear, stigma and discrimination.
Speaking at a briefing in Alausa, Ikeja, on Thursday, the Chief Executive Officer of the Lagos State AIDS Control Agency (LSACA), Dr. Folakemi Animashaun, said the widely reported figure of 10,430 referred to newly diagnosed HIV-positive cases, not people who became infected in 2025.
“The figure that has been widely circulated does not literally mean Lagos recorded 10,430 new HIV infections in 2025. It represents newly diagnosed HIV-positive cases, which is a completely different epidemiological indicator from new infections,” she explained.
Animashaun said newly diagnosed cases include people who may have contracted HIV years ago but only recently got tested, as well as patients referred from other states or those who travelled to Lagos for treatment.
She said Lagos had begun discussions with relevant stakeholders to better understand how the figures were produced and ensure they are interpreted correctly.
She warned that mixing up the two indicators could discourage people from getting tested and increase stigma against people living with HIV.
“Lagos remains firmly committed to protecting the health and wellbeing of every resident. There is absolutely no cause for panic,” she said.
Animashaun said Lagos records many diagnosed cases because it is Nigeria’s most populous state, commercial hub and a major healthcare referral centre. She added that the state’s strong HIV surveillance system also leads to higher case detection through wider access to healthcare.
She said 504,800 people were tested for HIV in 2025, with 11,940 positive cases, giving a positivity rate of 2.4 per cent. In the first quarter of 2026, 179,229 people were tested, 3,390 were positive and the positivity rate dropped to 1.9 per cent.
“The declining positivity rate, even as testing expands, is a significant epidemiological indicator showing that our interventions are working,” she said.
Animashaun said 147,904 people were on antiretroviral therapy in 2025, with 97 per cent achieving viral suppression. She added that Lagos had become the first sub-national government in Nigeria to buy antiretroviral medicines with its own funds.
“This is not just about meeting today’s treatment needs. It is about securing the future of HIV care in Lagos through a resilient, sustainable and state-owned response,” she said.
