Nigeria has announced its readiness to adopt the new $40 twice-yearly HIV prevention injection, lenacapavir, following its rollout in South Africa, Eswatini, and Zambia. NACA DG Temitope Ilori described the drug as part of a “remarkable scientific evolution,” highlighting that global partnerships helped reduce its original $28,000 annual cost to just $40 for low- and middle-income countries.
She noted Nigeria’s progress in HIV control—adult prevalence now at 1.3 per cent, improved treatment coverage, and a 46 per cent decline in new infections—while acknowledging gaps in testing and early diagnosis. With a new $200 million government commitment and ongoing maternal health gains, the country says it aims to sustain a self-reliant HIV response and combat stigma, echoed by First Lady Oluremi Tinubu who urged Nigerians to foster openness, compassion, and support for people living with HIV.