The Federal Government has announced plans to introduce a new long-acting HIV prevention injection, Lenacapavir, as part of efforts to end HIV/AIDS as a public health threat by 2030.
The Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Iziaq Salako, disclosed this on Monday during a media briefing in Abuja. He said the move reflects the government’s commitment to strengthening HIV prevention, treatment, and care through innovation and increased investment.
Nigeria has been selected by the Global Fund as one of nine early adopter countries for the rollout of the injectable drug, which is expected to begin in January 2026. About 52,000 doses have already been secured for the first phase.
Lenacapavir is administered once every six months, offering a major alternative to daily oral pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), which many people struggle to maintain consistently. Health experts believe this could significantly improve prevention efforts, especially among high-risk groups.
Nigeria currently has the second-largest HIV burden globally, with about 1.9 million people living with the virus. While infection rates have declined over the years, new cases remain a major concern, largely due to gaps in prevention.
Salako described the introduction of the drug as a major step forward, noting that it will expand the country’s prevention options and make protection more accessible.
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Also speaking, the National Coordinator of the HIV programme, Adebobola Bashorun, said plans are underway to expand access across more states as funding increases. He added that the injection will complement existing methods like oral PrEP, not replace them.
On safety, officials said reported side effects have been mild, mostly limited to pain at the injection site, with ongoing monitoring in place.
The government also revealed that the initiative is being supported through partnerships, with plans to explore local production in the future to ensure sustainability and reduce reliance on external donors.
