The National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA) has disclosed that Nigeria is set to receive Lenacapavir, a new HIV prevention medication described as highly effective in stopping HIV transmission during clinical trials.
In a statement issued on Monday, Toyin Aderibigbe, Head of Public Relations at NACA, said the agency had secured approval for the drug from the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), clearing the way for its deployment in the country.
Lenacapavir is administered through injection twice yearly, offering a more convenient alternative to daily oral preventive medications currently used for HIV protection.
According to the agency, Nigeria is preparing for the nationwide introduction of the drug as part of its broader HIV prevention strategy.
“The Government of Nigeria is advancing preparations for the introduction and rollout of Lenacapavir as Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP).
“This is part of the government’s commitment to strengthen HIV prevention and accelerate progress toward epidemic control,” the statement read.
NACA noted that groundwork for the rollout has already begun, including readiness and landscape assessments conducted across 10 states — Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Benue, Cross River, Ebonyi, the Federal Capital Territory, Gombe, Kano, Kwara, and Lagos.
The agency added that regulatory clearance by NAFDAC represents a major milestone toward deployment, with supplies expected to arrive in Nigeria in March 2026.
“The commodities are expected in the country in March 2026,” NACA stated.
Through voluntary licensing arrangements with generic pharmaceutical manufacturers, Lenacapavir will be made available in Nigeria and 119 other low- and middle-income countries at an estimated annual cost of $40 per person.
Nigeria continues to bear a significant HIV burden, with about 1.9 million people currently living with the virus and an adult prevalence rate of 1.3 percent among persons aged 15 to 49.
Data cited by the agency shows the country recorded approximately 74,000 new infections and 51,000 AIDS-related deaths in 2021, with the South-South region having the highest prevalence rate at 3.1 percent. Women within the 15–49 age group are also more than twice as likely to live with HIV compared to men.
