The Lagos State Government has formally dismissed widespread media reports suggesting that the state recorded the highest number of fresh HIV infections across Nigeria in 2025.
Health authorities clarified that the published figures have been technically misinterpreted by commentators and do not represent new transmissions.
Speaking at an extensive press briefing in Ikeja, the Chief Executive Officer of the Lagos State AIDS Control Agency (LSACA), Dr. Folakemi Animashaun, explained that the controversial figure of 10,430 widely reported in the press represents newly diagnosed HIV-positive cases, rather than individuals who newly contracted the virus during the 2025 calendar year.
She highlighted that because of Lagos' position as Nigeria’s primary commercial hub and premier healthcare referral center, expanded diagnostic testing inevitably uncovers long-standing, hidden cases.
Backing her position with verified program data, Animashaun noted that Lagos conducted 504,800 tests in 2025 with a 2.4% positivity rate, which dropped further to 1.9% in the first quarter of 2026.
"The figures being circulated require proper technical interpretation. Newly diagnosed HIV cases are different from new HIV infections.
Confusing the two creates unnecessary panic, fuels stigma and discourages people from going for HIV testing. Lagos is not defined by the number of people it tests. Lagos is defined by the strength of its response," Dr. Folakemi Animashaun stated.
In what marks a revolutionary milestone for public health management in West Africa, the LSACA boss announced that Lagos has officially become the first sub-national government in Nigeria to independently procure its own antiretroviral (ART) medicines for people living with the virus.
The first major batch of these state-funded drugs is expected to arrive before the end of August 2026, a move championed by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to drastically reduce absolute dependence on international donor funding.
Concurrently, the state has launched a three-month HIV Response Acceleration Plan spanning July to September 2026 across all 20 local governments, while actively exploring partnerships to kickstart local production of health commodities modeled after Kenya’s successful pharmaceutical experience.
#LagosState #LSACA #FolakemiAnimashaun #SanwoOlu #PublicHealthNG #HIVAwareness #HealthcareReform #LagosNews
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