Nigeria Records 20,838 New HIV Cases in Q1 2026

Nigeria recorded 20,838 new HIV infections between January and March 2026, according to figures from the Nigerian National Data Repository.

The data shows Lagos leading with 2,298 cases, followed by Benue State at 1,949. Other states with significant numbers include Akwa Ibom, Rivers and Anambra, while Kaduna, Delta, Oyo and Plateau also reported notable infections.

NaijaChoice News analysis of the repository figures indicates these new cases reflect routine testing at health facilities across the country. However, the National Agency for the Control of AIDS has cautioned that the numbers represent positivity rates from testing and should not be used to rank states or measure true disease burden.

Women remain hardest hit. Prevalence among women aged 15 to 49 stands at about 1.9 per cent, compared to 0.9 per cent for men in the same age group. Young women between 20 and 29 account for a large share of the fresh infections.

Nationally, adult HIV prevalence hovers between 1.3 and 1.4 per cent, with roughly 1.9 million people living with the virus. Treatment coverage has expanded in recent years, yet gaps in prevention, regular testing and funding continue to fuel new transmissions.

The situation overlaps with broader weaknesses in maternal and child health services. Only about one in three Nigerian children is fully vaccinated, with coverage far lower in parts of the North West and North East.

Many children in rural and hard-to-reach communities still miss out on basic immunisation due to distance, poverty and insecurity. Antenatal care attendance remains low in several areas, pushing up rates of home deliveries.

Health authorities are urging stronger action. They are pushing for wider access to testing, pre-exposure prophylaxis for those at risk, higher vaccination uptake and improved primary healthcare delivery.

Officials say closing these gaps will be key to reducing both HIV infections and other preventable health burdens in the coming months.