Lagos Records Highest HIV Infections as Nigeria Reports Over 102,000 New Cases

by Nelson Ugwuagbo

Nigeria recorded a total of 102,025 new HIV infections across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in 2025, with Lagos State accounting for the highest number of new cases, according to the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare.

Data contained in the ministry’s State of the Health of the Nation Report 2025, obtained by our reporters, revealed a state-by-state breakdown of newly recorded HIV infections, highlighting the continued spread of the virus despite years of intensified prevention and awareness campaigns.

According to the report, Lagos recorded the highest number of new HIV infections with 10,430 cases.

Rivers State ranked second with 6,287 new infections, followed by Kano with 6,106 cases. Akwa Ibom reported 5,413 new infections, while Taraba and Benue recorded 4,854 and 4,804 cases, respectively.

Anambra accounted for 4,468 new infections, Kaduna recorded 3,659, while Adamawa and the Federal Capital Territory reported 2,989 and 2,764 cases, respectively, completing the list of the 10 states with the highest number of new HIV infections in 2025.

The report further showed that several other states recorded more than 2,000 new infections during the year. These include Cross River with 2,595 cases, Sokoto with 2,592, Abia with 2,546, Imo with 2,537, Delta with 2,469, Borno with 2,311, Ogun with 2,107, Plateau with 2,084, Niger with 2,020, and Ebonyi with 2,015.

At the lower end of the scale, Ekiti recorded the fewest new HIV infections with 462 cases. Bayelsa reported 982 new infections, while Gombe and Osun recorded 1,083 and 1,093 cases, respectively.

Other states with relatively lower figures included Kwara with 1,371 new infections, Enugu with 1,429, Yobe with 1,483, Katsina with 1,541, and Kebbi with 1,572, according to the report.

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