HIV injection
By Toyin Williams
The federal government has announced plans to roll out a new long-acting HIV prevention injection, Lenacapavir, in a move aimed at accelerating efforts to end HIV/AIDS as a public health threat in Nigeria by 2030.
The Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Iziaq Salako, disclosed this on Monday during a media parley organised by the National HIV, Viral Hepatitis and STDs Control Programme under the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare in Abuja.
According to Salako, the initiative underscores the government’s commitment under President Bola Tinubu to strengthen Nigeria’s HIV response through innovation, expanded prevention services, and increased domestic financing.
“The government of Nigeria remains committed to ending HIV/AIDS as a public health threat by 2030 through a comprehensive and multi-sectoral approach that prioritises the expansion of prevention, treatment, and care services,” he said.
Nigeria has been selected by the Global Fund as one of nine early adopter countries for the introduction of Lenacapavir for pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), with rollout scheduled to begin in January 2026.
Salako revealed that about 52,000 doses of the injectable drug have already been secured to support the initial phase of implementation.
Lenacapavir, a long-acting antiretroviral administered once every six months, represents a significant shift from daily oral PrEP regimens, which have struggled with adherence challenges, particularly among high-risk populations.
Nigeria currently has the second-largest HIV epidemic globally, with an estimated 1.9million people living with HIV, according to the National Agency for the Control of AIDS. Although prevalence has declined in recent years, new infections remain a major public health concern.
Public health experts have consistently identified prevention as the weakest link in Nigeria’s HIV response, citing stigma, access barriers, and difficulties associated with daily medication adherence as key factors limiting the uptake of oral PrEP.
Health economists have also warned that without stronger prevention strategies, the country risks sustaining a steady rate of new infections, which could further strain already limited treatment resources.
Salako described the introduction of Lenacapavir as a major advancement, particularly for key and vulnerable populations.
“One of such advancements is the introduction of long-acting injectable PrEP, which expands Nigeria’s HIV prevention toolkit and provides additional prevention options for individuals at substantial risk of HIV acquisition,” he said.
Also speaking, the National Coordinator of the National AIDS and STDs Control Programme, Adebobola Bashorun, said the Federal Government is working to expand access to the drug across more states.
“As we scale up, we are exploring catalytic funding to increase the number of doses and extend coverage to populations most at risk,” Bashorun said.
He clarified that the new injection would complement, not replace, existing HIV prevention methods.
“We already have multiple prevention options. Individuals can still use oral PrEP. National policy guidelines will determine how best to integrate this new option into existing programmes,” he added.
Addressing safety concerns, Bashorun noted that reported side effects have been mild and largely limited to injection-site reactions.
“The common side effects include pain at the injection site, which is expected. We are actively monitoring for any adverse reactions and so far, the outcomes are encouraging,” he said.
Salako further explained that the introduction of Lenacapavir is being facilitated through a partnership with the Global Fund, adding that the government is exploring long-term sustainability measures, including local production.
“This drug is being made available through a partnership with the Global Fund. Over time, we expect to engage manufacturers directly and explore pathways for local production,” he said.
He added that discussions around technology transfer and domestic manufacturing would be critical in reducing Nigeria’s dependence on external donors and ensuring sustained access to HIV prevention tools.
