Nigeria recorded 20,838 new HIV infections in the first quarter of 2026, with Lagos and Benue states bearing the heaviest burden, according to figures from the National Data Repository.
Daily Post Nigeria reports that Lagos topped the national chart with 2,298 new cases, while Benue followed with 1,949. Akwa Ibom came third with 1,159 cases, trailed by Rivers at 1,137 and Anambra at 1,013.
Health experts attribute Lagos’ position to the state’s dense population and high mobility, factors that make urban centres persistent hotspots for new infections. Benue’s figures reflect ongoing challenges in Nigeria’s north-central region, where the state has historically recorded some of the country’s highest HIV prevalence rates.
In the north, Kaduna posted 842 cases and Kano recorded 476. Other states with notable figures include Delta (803), Oyo (763), Ogun (751), Plateau (662), Imo (640), and Nasarawa (615). The Federal Capital Territory logged 579 cases, while Abia and Edo reported 527 and 512 respectively.
Ebonyi, Gombe, and Borno recorded 253, 252, and 238 cases respectively. Yobe returned the lowest figure nationally at 100 new infections, followed by Sokoto at 110 and Ekiti at 129.
The Advocate reports that Analysts note a clear pattern in the data: southern states are consistently reporting higher new HIV diagnoses compared to their northern counterparts, a trend linked to differences in health infrastructure, cultural attitudes toward testing, and urbanization rates. Lagos, Benue, and Akwa Ibom alone account for nearly a third of all new cases recorded in the quarter.
In response to the figures, the Federal Government announced fresh funding commitments to tackle HIV and related diseases. Health Minister Prof. Muhammad Pate disclosed a $346 million co-financing commitment for 2026 to support HIV, tuberculosis, and malaria interventions, with President Tinubu directing the Budget Office to capture the funds in the 2026 budget.
Pate made the announcement during the national rollout of Lenacapavir, a long-acting injectable used for HIV prevention, stressing that the investment covers medical supplies, laboratory surveillance, reagents, primary healthcare expansion, and financial protection for citizens.
The minister acknowledged growing pressure on global health financing, noting that Nigeria must increasingly look inward to sustain its HIV response as international funding tightens.
