Lagos State has emerged as Nigeria's epicenter for new HIV infections, accounting for 10,430 out of a total 102,025 cases reported nationwide.

This is according to the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare's State of the Health of the Nation Report 2025. The comprehensive health report, evaluating key health markers across Nigeria, ranked Rivers State and Kano next, reporting 6,287 and 6,106 new infections, respectively.

Other states grappling with high infection rates included Akwa Ibom, Taraba, Benue, Anambra, Kaduna, Adamawa, and the Federal Capital Territory.

The Ministry stressed that these statistics highlight the persistent HIV burden Nigeria carries, despite years of concerted efforts to curb transmission through extensive testing, treatment, and prevention programs.

Health officials acknowledged the progress made in improving access to antiretroviral therapy and reducing AIDS-related fatalities.

However, they expressed concern over the continuous surge in new infections, particularly among young individuals, adolescent girls, young women, HIV-exposed infants, and other susceptible groups.

To tackle this alarming issue, the Federal Government, in collaboration with the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA) and other health bodies, continues to enhance HIV response strategies.

These strategies encompass extending free HIV testing services, ensuring easier access to antiretroviral drugs, amplifying the Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission (PMTCT) programs, and making pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) more accessible to high-risk individuals.

The government further reasserted its dedication to achieving the global UNAIDS 95-95-95 targets by 2030. These targets aim for 95% of HIV-positive individuals to be aware of their status, 95% of diagnosed individuals to receive consistent treatment, and 95% of those treated to achieve viral suppression.

However, public health experts have cautioned that maintaining the progress made against HIV will necessitate increased local funding, especially in light of dwindling international donor support.

They urged governments at all tiers to intensify awareness campaigns, broaden access to preventive services, and guarantee uninterrupted treatment for HIV-positive individuals.

The latest report underscores the urgent need for reinvigorated efforts to stem the tide of new infections and hasten Nigeria's stride towards eliminating AIDS as a public health menace by the decade's end.