The Federal Government has announced that consignments of Lenacapavir, a long-acting HIV prevention drug, are expected to arrive in Nigeria in March 2026 as part of plans to strengthen epidemic control efforts.
Groundbreaking HIV prevention drug to arrive Nigeria in March, says FG
— TheCable (@thecableng) March 2, 2026
The federal government says consignments of Lenacapavir, a new drug for HIV prevention, are expected to arrive in Nigeria in March 2026.
In a statement on Monday, the National Agency for the Control of AIDS… pic.twitter.com/rtqbPk2maq
The National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA) said on Monday that preparations are underway for the introduction and rollout of Lenacapavir (LEN) as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) in Nigeria. In a statement, the agency noted that the move forms part of the Federal Government’s commitment to accelerate progress towards HIV epidemic control. Lenacapavir is a long-acting injectable PrEP option administered twice a year and has been shown in clinical trials to significantly reduce the risk of infection, offering near-total protection against HIV.
“The Government of Nigeria (GON) is advancing preparations for the introduction and rollout of Lenacapavir (LEN) as Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP). This is part of Government’s commitment to strengthen HIV prevention and accelerate progress toward epidemic control,” the statement reads.
“Commodities are expected in country in March 2026.”
According to NACA, coordinated efforts are ongoing to ensure a structured and quality-assured rollout of the new prevention option in priority states. The agency said Nigeria is on track for a phased introduction of LEN PrEP, supported by regulatory approval from the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), system preparedness, trained personnel and community engagement strategies. It added that landscape and readiness assessments have been completed in 10 states — Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Benue, Cross River, Ebonyi, FCT, Gombe, Kano, Kwara and Lagos — to evaluate service delivery capacity and identify implementation needs.
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