RismadarVoice Reporters, March 2, 2026
The National Agency for the Control of AIDS, NACA, has announced that Nigeria will take delivery of Lenacapavir, a groundbreaking HIV prevention drug that has shown 100 percent effectiveness in clinical trials.
In a statement on Monday, NACA’s Head of Public Relations, Toyin Aderibigbe, said the agency has secured regulatory approval from NAFDAC for the drug, which will be rolled out as part of Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis, PrEP, programmes.
Lenacapavir is an injectable treatment administered twice a year, providing a more convenient alternative to daily oral prevention drugs. It will be available in Nigeria and 119 other low- and middle-income countries at an affordable price of $40 per person annually, thanks to voluntary licensing agreements with generic manufacturers.
The agency noted that landscape and readiness assessments have been completed in ten states, including Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Benue, Cross River, Ebonyi, FCT, Gombe, Kano, Kwara, and Lagos. These assessments are part of preparations for the introduction and rollout of Lenacapavir, expected in Nigeria in March 2026.
Nigeria has approximately 1.9 million people living with HIV, with a national prevalence of 1.3 percent among adults aged 15-49. The South-South zone, where Akwa Ibom is located, has the highest prevalence at 3.1 percent, with women more than twice as likely to be living with HIV as men.
NACA said the introduction of Lenacapavir represents a major milestone in HIV prevention in Akwa Ibom and across Nigeria, offering hope for millions and strengthening efforts to control the epidemic.
