Nigeria to Receive Groundbreaking HIV Prevention Drug this Month
By Momodu Favour
The National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA) has announced that Nigeria will receive Lenacapavir, a revolutionary HIV prevention drug, in March 2026.
The drug, which has demonstrated 100% effectiveness in clinical trials, is expected to significantly strengthen the country’s efforts to curb the HIV epidemic.
In a statement on Monday, NACA’s Head of Public Relations, Toyin Aderibigbe, revealed that the agency has secured regulatory approval from the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), clearing the way for the drug’s introduction and rollout.
Lenacapavir is an injectable medication administered twice a year, providing a convenient alternative to daily oral HIV prevention drugs.
Through voluntary licensing agreements with generic manufacturers, the drug will be made available in Nigeria and 119 other low- and middle-income countries at an affordable price of $40 per person annually.
“The Government of Nigeria is advancing preparations for the introduction and rollout of Lenacapavir as Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP),” the statement read.
“This is part of the government’s commitment to strengthen HIV prevention and accelerate progress toward epidemic control.”
NACA has also highlighted several key milestones in readiness for the rollout, including landscape and readiness assessments conducted across ten states: Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Benue, Cross River, Ebonyi, the Federal Capital Territory, Gombe, Kano, Kwara, and Lagos.
Nigeria currently has approximately 1.9 million people living with HIV, with a national adult prevalence of 1.3% among those aged 15–49 years.
In 2021, the country recorded 74,000 new HIV infections and 51,000 AIDS-related deaths. The South-South zone has the highest HIV prevalence at 3.1%, and women aged 15–49 are more than twice as likely to be living with HIV compared to men.
Health experts believe that the introduction of Lenacapavir could revolutionize HIV prevention in Nigeria, reducing new infections and improving access to effective, long-acting prophylaxis for vulnerable populations.
