Nigeria has announced significant progress in its national HIV response, achieving two of the global 95-95-95 targets as the country marks World AIDS Day 2025.
The Director-General of the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA), Dr Temitope Ilori, stated at a press conference held to commemorate the 2025 World AIDS Day that the milestone represents a testament to Nigeria’s resilience and its commitment to ending AIDS as a public health threat by 2030.
Dr Ilori revealed that 87% of people living with HIV in Nigeria now know their status, 98% of those who know their status are on life-saving treatment, and 95% of those on treatment are virally suppressed.
She noted that the country achieved these outcomes despite global economic disruptions, declining donor support, and shifting health financing priorities.
She highlighted a 46% reduction in new HIV infections over the last decade, alongside improvements in prevention of mother-to-child transmission, early infant diagnosis, and paediatric treatment.
The NACA DG commended states that increased domestic investments through HIV Trust Funds and strengthened budgetary commitments.
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She also praised President Bola Tinubu’s approval of a $200 million emergency fund to prevent disruption of HIV services amid global funding uncertainties, describing the move as a demonstration of strong national ownership.
Dr Ilori further announced improved integration of HIV services through the ATM-TWG platform and expanded enrolment of people living with HIV into state health insurance schemes to secure long-term programme sustainability.
She added that the newly introduced digital reporting tools are enhancing data accuracy, accountability, and service delivery.
“Despite the gains, challenges persist, including stigma, high paediatric HIV burden, reliance on foreign aid, and underserved hard-to-reach communities,” she said.
She reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to scaling up PrEP access, accelerating PMTCT initiatives, and strengthening prevention for key populations.
Representing UNAIDS Nigeria, Mr Gabriel Undel Ikwo, on behalf of Dr Leo Zekeng, commended Nigeria’s resilience amid global funding cuts impacting prevention and community-led services.
He said Nigeria’s shift toward integration, sustainability, and domestic resource mobilisation reflects strong national leadership.
Ikwo applauded President Tinubu, the Coordinating Minister of Health, and NACA for securing local financing, strengthening national health systems, and ensuring continued treatment access for vulnerable groups.
He reaffirmed UNAIDS’ support for Nigeria’s goal of building a community-led, inclusive HIV response while reminding stakeholders that AIDS is “not yet over”.
Representing the World Health Organisation (WHO), Mr Omoniyi Amos stressed that World AIDS Day remains a time to promote awareness, solidarity, and remembrance for lives lost, particularly to TB/HIV co-infection.
He said this year’s theme, Overcoming Disruptions, Sustaining the Nigerian HIV Response, reflects the need to safeguard progress amid global uncertainties.
Amos praised Nigeria’s adoption of innovative solutions such as the forthcoming rollout of the long-acting HIV prevention medication, lenacapavir, expected in 2026.
He said Nigeria continues to strengthen data-driven decision-making and noted that community structures were instrumental in maintaining uninterrupted treatment during funding disruptions.
He urged increased domestic financing, stronger health systems, elimination of stigma, and continued action to address inequalities.