“About 160,000 People in Lagos Are Living with HIV, Government Warns as Testing Declines”

The Lagos State AIDS Control Agency (LASCA) has revealed that approximately 160,000 residents of Lagos are currently living with HIV. During a press briefing to mark World AIDS Day 2025, LASCA’s Chief Executive Officer, Folakemi Animashaun, stated that about 147,466 of these individuals are receiving antiretroviral treatment (ART).

However, the state’s HIV-testing efforts have dropped significantly. Only 222,415 tests were conducted from January to September 2025, representing just 28.9% of the number carried out during the same period last year. This decline has been linked to disruptions in community-level outreach, which were reportedly triggered by funding and operational challenges affecting grassroots HIV services.

In response, Lagos has launched a new Statewide Community HIV Testing Campaign as part of its World AIDS Day activities. Since the campaign began on 18 November 2025, nearly 9,943 residents have been tested, resulting in a 2.0% positivity rate, and those who tested positive have been connected to care.

LASCA emphasized that while hospitals and treatment centres remained operational throughout the year, community outreach and grassroots support—vital for early testing, counseling, and follow-up care—were severely hampered. The agency urged all stakeholders, including religious groups, market associations, youth organizations, and civil society, to intensify awareness, testing, and support, stressing that sustained community engagement is crucial in the fight against HIV.