Hepatitis B Infects 8.1% of Nigerians, FG Warns of Trillions in Economic Loss

The federal government has raised concern over the increasing prevalence of Hepatitis B in Nigeria, revealing that over 8.1 percent of the population is infected despite the availability of vaccines and treatments. Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Ali Pate, who was represented by the Director of Public Health, Dr. Godwin Ntadom, disclosed this in Abuja on Monday during a media briefing to commemorate the 2025 World Hepatitis Day. He stated that over 90 percent of those infected remain undiagnosed, unknowingly spreading the virus, including to children. According to Pate, approximately 20 million Nigerians are currently living with viral hepatitis 18.2 million with Hepatitis B and 2.5 million with Hepatitis C. He lamented that an estimated 4,252 Nigerians die each year from liver cancer caused by untreated hepatitis, while the disease continues to cost the country between N13.3 trillion and N17.9 trillion annually. The minister stressed that symptoms of hepatitis are often misdiagnosed as malaria, with individuals resorting to self-medication while the virus continues to damage the liver, often progressing to liver failure or cancer. In response, Pate said the government has launched “Project 365,” a nationwide campaign for the screening, diagnosis, and treatment of hepatitis, aimed at eliminating Hepatitis C and curbing the spread of Hepatitis B by 2030. He added that efforts are ongoing to boost funding for hepatitis programs, establish a Viral Elimination Fund (VEF), and introduce tax incentives and regulatory reforms to encourage local production of hepatitis medications.