A new survey by the Lagos State Government has revealed that 41.7 per cent of people living with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) in the state do not know their status, highlighting a significant gap in HIV testing and diagnosis.
The 2025–2026 Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) Impact Survey found that only 58.3 per cent of adults living with HIV knew their status, while the remaining 41.7 per cent were unaware of their HIV status.
The survey also found that HIV prevalence among adults aged 15 to 64 was 1.6 per cent among women and 0.8 per cent among men, suggesting that women were twice as likely to be living with HIV as men.
Presented on Wednesday at the Sheraton Hotel, Ikeja, during the dissemination of the Lagos State Summary Sheet of the ART Impact Survey, the findings identified intensified HIV testing, improved diagnosis and stronger access to treatment as major priorities for the state.
Speaking at the event, the Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Health, Dayo Lajide, described the survey as a significant milestone in strengthening the state’s HIV response through credible evidence, informed decision-making and strategic programme implementation.
She said the exercise would help assess progress since the 2018 Nigeria HIV/AIDS Indicator and Impact Survey (NAIIS) and support efforts towards achieving the UNAIDS 95-95-95 targets.
Over 60,000 people yet to access HIV treatment
Ms Lajide said the 2025 HIV Health Sector Report estimated that 197,911 people were living with HIV in Lagos, with 129,977 receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART).
This represents treatment coverage of 65.7 per cent, leaving a gap of more than 60,000 people who are yet to access treatment.
She also highlighted gaps in services for mothers and children, noting that prevention of mother-to-child transmission coverage increased from 45 per cent in 2018 to 57.6 per cent in 2025.
However, Early Infant Diagnosis (EID) declined from 7.7 per cent in 2021 to 1.5 per cent in 2025, while paediatric treatment coverage remained at approximately 44.5 per cent.
She called for targeted interventions to strengthen case identification, treatment linkage, retention in care, early infant diagnosis and paediatric treatment.
Ms Lajide reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to sustaining HIV services through the procurement of rapid diagnostic kits and antiretroviral medicines, health system strengthening and the integration of HIV services into routine healthcare.
She also stressed the importance of domestic resource mobilisation and sustainable financing amid changes in the global healthcare funding landscape.
88.9% of people on treatment achieve viral suppression
Providing an overview of the survey, AIDS Prevention Initiatives in Nigeria/Public Health Information, Surveillance Solutions, and Systems (APIN/PHIS3) Technical Director, Olaposi Olatoregun, said the assessment adopted the Population-Based HIV Impact Assessment approach and involved extensive stakeholder coordination, fieldwork and laboratory processes.
He said the exercise covered 205 enumeration areas and 6,450 households, with eligible individuals aged between 15 and 64. Monitoring and quality assurance measures were also implemented to ensure reliable findings.
Presenting the survey findings, APIN/PHIS3 Survey Lead, Ubong Okon, said the exercise was conducted between November 2025 and February 2026 to examine HIV prevalence, testing, treatment access and viral load suppression.
He disclosed that 93.5 per cent of the 6,748 eligible households completed household interviews.
According to the findings, 58.3 per cent of people living with HIV knew their status, 93.4 per cent were receiving treatment, while 88.9 per cent of those on treatment had achieved viral load suppression.
The findings highlight the progress recorded in treatment and viral suppression among people accessing care, while pointing to the need to identify and link more people living with HIV to treatment.
Health Assistant Coordinator in the Office of the US Embassy’s Department of State, Abuja, Omoshalewa Oyelaran, described the survey as an opportunity for Lagos to obtain a clear and independent picture of its HIV epidemic.
She said the findings showed who was living with HIV, receiving treatment and achieving viral suppression.
Ms Oyelaran identified awareness of HIV status as the major gap, stressing that people who do not know their status cannot be linked to treatment.
Stakeholders urge sustained investment, regular assessments
The Coordinator of the National AIDS, Viral Hepatitis and STIs Control Programme (NASCP), Adebobola Bashorun, represented by Assistant Chief Scientific Officer, Sabina Aiki, said the survey provided reliable state-level evidence to assess the reach and impact of HIV treatment services and guide decisions.
She commended Lagos State’s leadership and acknowledged the contributions of federal agencies, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), APIN/PHIS3, civil society organisations and communities.
Similarly, APIN Public Health Initiatives Chief Executive Officer, Jay Samuels, described the survey as a major achievement and expressed appreciation to the US CDC for its support and confidence in the organisation.
He commended the Lagos State Government and other stakeholders for their cooperation, while calling for more regular assessments.
Mr Samuels said the state should not have to wait another five or six years to generate such strategic information.
The United States CDC Country Deputy Director, Gbolahan Cole, said the US Government had made significant investments in the survey, including training field personnel and strengthening laboratory capacity.
He reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to working with Lagos State and its partners to determine appropriate responses to the identified gaps and provide technical assistance.
Lagos to use findings to strengthen HIV response
The Chief Executive Officer of the Lagos State AIDS Control Agency (LSACA), Folakemi Animashaun, described the findings as timely and strategic as the state moves towards greater domestic ownership of its HIV response.
She said the survey would guide planning, budgeting, accountability and funding priorities, adding that its value would depend on translating the findings into implementation.
The Network of People Living with HIV/AIDS in Nigeria (NEPWHAN), represented by its Strategy Manager, Inolode Emmanuel, said the dissemination provided an opportunity to reflect on progress, gaps and the lives affected by HIV interventions.
He described antiretroviral therapy as representing hope, dignity, survival and the opportunity to live a healthy life, while urging stakeholders to keep community voices central to the response.
In his vote of thanks, the Lagos State Ministry of Health Director of Disease Control, Oladipupo Fisher, commended the state’s pioneering role in population-based HIV surveys.
He acknowledged the contributions of government institutions, development partners, technical experts, security agencies and field teams.
Mr Fisher urged stakeholders to use the findings to review interventions, reach people living with HIV who remain outside care and ensure that those enrolled in treatment achieve viral suppression.
The survey was supported by the United States Government and conducted through collaboration involving the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, National AIDS & STI Control Program (NASCP), the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA), the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), Lagos State Government, APIN/PHIS3, civil society organisations and community representatives.
Stakeholders called for collective action to address the identified gaps, sustain the gains recorded and strengthen Lagos State’s progress towards HIV epidemic control.
