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The fight against HIV/AIDS has entered a decisive stage in the country with the recent rollout of Lenacapavir, a long-acting injectable HIV drug, in nine states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). The much-anticipated intervention in pilot states and the FCT is part of efforts to expand access to innovative prevention services to combat the spread of HIV.
The Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Salako, said Anambra, Ebonyi, Gombe, Kano, Kwara, Lagos, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Benue states and the FCT had been selected for the initial administration of the pre-exposure prophylaxis earlier scheduled for March 24. Nigeria was selected by the Global Fund as one of nine early adopters after expressing interest in March 2025 and receiving approval for the introduction of Lenacapavir.
As explained by medical experts, Lenacapavir is a long-acting injectable antiretroviral administered once every six months as pre-exposure prophylaxis for HIV-negative individuals, offering an alternative to daily oral prevention drugs. The minister also said that the rollout marked a significant step toward ending HIV and AIDS as a public health threat by 2030, through strengthened prevention, treatment and care services in the country.
Out of the 52,000 doses of Lenacapavir injection donated by the Global Fund and expected in three tranches, Nigeria has received 11,520 doses. The second will come in May and the third in October. During the reception of the first tranche of the Lenacapavir doses, the Head of Procurement and Supply Chain Management, National AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, and STIs Control Programme (NASCP), Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Mohammed Patiko, described it as a critical milestone in expanding the country’s HIV prevention toolkit.
The target population, according to Patiko, includes sero-discordant couples, people at risk of HIV/AIDS, and key populations such as men who have sex with men (MSM), female sex workers (FSW) and transgender persons. He says that for the National HIV Programme pilot and study, the Lenacapavir injection will be given free of charge to all clients who are enrolled. It will be available at designated health facilities in the pilot states.
It is worth mentioning that the groundbreaking drug is not a treatment for HIV but a prevention option for HIV-negative individuals at substantial risk of infection. “It is not a treatment. It is prevention. It should not be seen as a licence for risky behaviour,” Salako stated. He also stressed that the National Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis Implementation Plan 2025-2028 would guide scale-up, covering service delivery, supply chain, financing and community engagement.
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It is hoped that successful implementation of Lenacapavir would strengthen Nigeria’s HIV prevention response and accelerate progress toward ending AIDS as a public health threat by 2030. According to Dr. Adebola Bashorun, National Coordinator of the National AIDS, Viral Hepatitis and Sexually Transmitted Infectious Control Programme, the rollout plan was developed using programmatic data and stakeholder collaboration.
He also explained that no adverse effect had been recorded, noting that only mild injection-site pain had been observed as a common side effect. The Lenacapavir drug will complement existing prevention options, including oral pre-exposure prophylaxis and long-acting injectable cabotegravir.
It will also expand choices for individuals at risk. Also, Dr. Charles Nzelu, the Director of Public Health, Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, described the development as long overdue and critical to improving adherence to HIV prevention interventions. In the same vein, the Director-General of National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA), said the innovation would strengthen Nigeria’s comprehensive HIV prevention strategy.
There are indications that the drug is in high demand among HIV community. According to the National Agency for the Control of AIDS and the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS, there are about two million people living with HIV/AIDS in Nigeria. The Network of People Living with HIV/AIDS (NEPWHAN) has over 1,030 support groups across Nigeria.
We applaud the rollout of the Lenacapavir drug, an innovative response to curb the spread of HIV/AIDS in the country. Let there be seamless implementation of the rollout programme in the selected pilot states and the FCT. Those involved in the administration of the preventive drug should watch out for any side effect. They must ensure proper monitoring of safety outcomes before embarking on nationwide expansion of the programme. Besides, there is need for enlightenment education on those who should access the drug across the country.
