Rivers State has emerged as the state with the highest number of people living with HIV in Nigeria, according to the latest national HIV estimates released in April 2025—raising fresh concerns about the scale and persistence of the epidemic across the country.
The data reveal that 208,767 residents of Rivers State are currently living with HIV, placing the oil-rich South-South state at the top of Nigeria’s HIV burden ranking. Benue State follows closely with 202,346 recorded cases, while Akwa Ibom State ranks third with 161,597 people living with the virus.
Over 2 Million Nigerians Living With HIV
Nationally, Nigeria is home to more than two million people living with HIV, making it one of the countries with the highest HIV burden globally. Despite decades of awareness campaigns, prevention programmes, and expanded access to antiretroviral therapy (ART), the new figures highlight the uneven progress across states and regions.
Other states with significant HIV prevalence include Lagos State, which recorded 108,649 cases, Anambra State with 100,429, and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) with 83,333 cases, the highest in North-Central Nigeria.
Why Rivers, Benue, and Akwa Ibom Are Most Affected
Public health experts attribute the high numbers in Rivers and Akwa Ibom to a mix of factors, including high population mobility, urban density, economic activities linked to the oil and gas sector, and long-standing prevalence rates. In Benue State, historical data has consistently shown elevated HIV prevalence, often linked to socio-economic vulnerabilities and limited access to early testing in rural communities.
Call for Targeted Intervention
Health authorities say the figures underscore the urgent need for state-specific and community-focused interventions, especially in high-burden areas. These include expanded testing, intensified prevention education, sustained funding for ART programmes, and stronger stigma-reduction campaigns to encourage early diagnosis and treatment.
While Nigeria has made progress in reducing AIDS-related deaths and improving treatment coverage, experts warn that high absolute numbers of people living with HIV remain a major public health concern, particularly if funding gaps and donor fatigue threaten ongoing programmes.
A Wake-Up Call for Policymakers
The latest HIV data serve as a wake-up call for federal and state governments to re-energise the national HIV response, prioritise high-burden states like Rivers, Benue, and Akwa Ibom, and ensure that no community is left behind.
As Nigeria continues its push toward epidemic control, the numbers from Rivers State stand as a sobering reminder that the fight against HIV is far from over.
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