The report underscores the continuing challenge of HIV prevention and treatment in Nigeria, despite years of progress in expanding access to testing, antiretroviral therapy, and public awareness campaigns.
Lagos topped the list with 10,430 new infections, followed by Rivers (6,287) and Kano (6,106). Other states recording significant numbers of new cases include Akwa Ibom (5,413), Taraba (4,854), Benue (4,804), Anambra (4,468), Kaduna (3,659), Adamawa (2,989) and the Federal Capital Territory (2,764).
The report also identified several other states with more than 2,000 new infections, including Cross River (2,595), Sokoto (2,592), Abia (2,546), Imo (2,537), Delta (2,469), Borno (2,311), Ogun (2,107), Plateau (2,084), Niger (2,020) and Ebonyi (2,015).
At the lower end of the spectrum, Ekiti recorded the fewest new infections with 462 cases, while Bayelsa (982), Gombe (1,083), Osun (1,093), Kwara (1,371), Enugu (1,429) and Yobe (1,483) also reported comparatively lower figures.
Health experts say the distribution of new HIV cases reflects differences in population size, urbanisation, healthcare access, migration patterns, and levels of awareness across states. They stress that while highly populated states naturally record higher numbers, sustained investments in prevention, routine testing, early diagnosis, and treatment remain essential nationwide.
The latest figures serve as a reminder that HIV remains a major public health concern in Nigeria. Stakeholders are calling for strengthened public education campaigns, expanded access to healthcare services, and intensified efforts to reduce stigma and discrimination, which continue to discourage many people from seeking testing and treatment.
As Nigeria works towards ending the HIV epidemic, public health authorities say greater collaboration between government, development partners, civil society organisations and communities will be crucial to reducing new infections and improving health outcomes for those living with the virus.
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