Lagos State Government has revealed that an estimated 160,000 residents are currently living with the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), based on newly compiled data covering January to September 2025.
The disclosure was made during the World AIDS Day 2025 press briefing held on Thursday by the Lagos State AIDS Control Agency (LSACA) at Alausa, Ikeja.
While presenting the state’s performance report, the Chief Executive Officer of LSACA, Dr Folakemi Animashaun, stated that the latest figure represents the updated estimate for the year.
According to her, between January and September 2025, Lagos recorded approximately 160,000 people living with HIV, and of that number, 147,466 individuals are currently on antiretroviral treatment.
She commended Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu for what she described as consistent support for the state’s HIV response, adding that his administration’s efforts have strengthened healthcare systems and community-based structures that provide prevention, testing, and treatment services.
Speaking on the 2025 theme, titled Overcoming Disruptions: Sustaining Nigeria’s HIV Response, Animashaun said the theme reflects the challenges Lagos has experienced this year, especially after the Stop Work Order issued by the United States Government disrupted community HIV interventions.
In March, the U.S. Government ended its partnership with the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), the global body coordinating actions aimed at ending AIDS as a public health threat by 2030.
This decision followed President Donald Trump’s Executive Order from January, titled Reevaluating and Realigning U.S. Foreign Aid, which placed a 90-day freeze on foreign assistance to permit a full review of America’s aid commitments.
Animashaun explained that the order had a direct effect on HIV programmes in Lagos.
She stated that the suspension of community activities slowed essential services, limiting access to testing, counselling, and psychosocial support, with vulnerable groups being the most affected.
During the reporting period, Lagos conducted 222,415 HIV tests, representing only 28.9 per cent of the total number of tests conducted the previous year. She said the significant drop shows the extent of the disruption.
Animashaun emphasised that the decline underscores the need to maintain active community engagement and encourage early testing.
Despite these challenges, she praised community-based organisations for adjusting quickly and restoring essential services.
She noted that their resilience has enabled the state to regain lost ground.
Providing an update on the ongoing Statewide Community HIV Testing Campaign, which commenced on November 18, Animashaun said a total of 9,943 residents have so far been tested, with a positivity rate of 2.0 per cent. She added that all individuals who tested positive have been linked to care.
She also reported strong turnout from women, particularly in Ikorodu, Badagry, Ojo, and Mushin, attributing the success to targeted outreach carried out in markets and densely populated neighbourhoods.
According to her, positive cases are still being recorded in several local government areas, which confirms that HIV remains a major public health concern in Lagos State.
Animashaun further highlighted the state’s broadened anti-stigma campaigns and listed activities planned for the World AIDS Day observance. These include a Jumat service, a novelty football match, a church outreach, an awareness walk, and a stakeholder symposium.
She urged residents to remain committed to sustaining the progress achieved.
With collective effort, she said, Lagos can continue to strengthen its HIV response and build a healthier state.
