The Lagos State AIDS Control Agency (LSACA) has clarified that reports stating Lagos recorded 10,430 HIV cases in 2025 do not mean that 10,430 people were newly infected with the virus this year.
The clarification follows the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare’s State of the Health of the Nation Report 2025, which showed Lagos recording the highest number of reported HIV cases in Nigeria.
According to the report, Lagos recorded 10,430 cases, followed by Rivers with 6,287 and Kano with 6,106.
In a statement, LSACA explained that the figure represents people who tested positive and were documented through HIV testing programmes in 2025, many of whom may have been living with the virus long before receiving a diagnosis.
“The 10,430 cases should not be interpreted as 10,430 new HIV infections that occurred in 2025. Rather, they represent individuals who were diagnosed and recorded through HIV testing services during the year,” the agency stated.
LSACA attributed the high figure to Lagos’ large population, its status as Nigeria’s commercial hub and its robust HIV surveillance, testing and reporting systems. The agency added that as more people come forward for testing, previously undiagnosed cases are identified and linked to life-saving treatment.
The agency encouraged residents to know their HIV status, stressing that early diagnosis and treatment remain critical in managing the virus and reducing its spread.
