The Lagos State AIDS Control Agency (LASCA) has revealed that an estimated 160,000 residents of Lagos are currently living with the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), raising fresh concerns over the state’s public-health response. The agency’s Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Folakemi Animashaun, disclosed the figures during a media briefing ahead of the 2025 World AIDS Day activities, stressing the urgent need to strengthen community-level interventions.
Dr. Animashaun explained that out of the estimated HIV-positive population, 147,466 individuals are currently receiving antiretroviral therapy across various health facilities in the state. She described the figure as both an indication of progress in treatment access and a reminder that thousands of others remain undiagnosed or out of care.
A major concern highlighted by LASCA is the sharp decline in HIV testing across Lagos. Between January and September 2025, only 222,415 HIV tests were conducted — representing just 28.9 percent of the number recorded within the same period in 2024. Dr. Animashaun attributed the steep drop to disruptions in community outreach services caused by a “Stop Work Order” issued earlier in the year by the United States government, which temporarily halted several donor-supported programmes.
She warned that the reduction in testing could reverse the gains Lagos has made over the years in both prevention and treatment. According to her, early detection remains the strongest tool for limiting the spread of HIV, linking individuals to treatment, and ultimately reducing the city’s overall viral load.
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In response to the worrying trend, the state government recently launched a Statewide Community HIV Testing Campaign to help bridge the testing gap. Since its rollout on November 18, the initiative has successfully tested 9,943 residents, including 3,402 males and 6,541 females, with a positivity rate of 2.0 percent recorded so far. All individuals who tested positive have been immediately linked to care and treatment services.
The campaign has recorded impressive turnout in key communities such as Ikorodu, Badagry, Ojo, and Mushin, with young adults between ages 20 and 35 making up the bulk of people who presented for testing. LASCA said this demographic engagement is crucial, given the higher risk of transmission among sexually active populations.
To strengthen its response, LASCA has activated a Community Recovery Plan designed to revive outreach programmes, restore disrupted support groups, expand access to multi-month drug dispensing, and trace individuals who discontinued treatment during the service disruptions. Dr. Animashaun emphasized that the success of the plan depends heavily on community cooperation and reduced stigma.
Earlier in the year, the Lagos State Ministry of Health had estimated the HIV-positive population at around 135,224 residents. The updated figure of 160,000 reflects revised modelling and improved data capture, while also pointing to the public-health challenges that persist in a fast-growing megacity like Lagos.
As Lagos joins the global community in marking World AIDS Day 2025, LASCA is calling for renewed commitment from government agencies, religious leaders, community groups, and individual residents. Dr. Animashaun urged Lagosians to embrace regular testing, adopt safe health practices, and support persons living with HIV so that “no one feels isolated or discriminated against because of their status.”
The agency reiterated that ending HIV as a public-health threat by 2030 remains achievable, but only if testing, treatment, and support services continue uninterrupted and residents play their part in sustaining the momentum.
