Nigeria is set to take delivery of Lenacapavir, a groundbreaking HIV prevention drug that demonstrated 100% effectiveness in preventing HIV infection during clinical trials, according to the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA).
In a statement released by NACA’s Head of Public Relations, Toyin Aderibigbe, the agency confirmed that all regulatory requirements have been completed, including approval by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).
Lenacapavir is a long-acting injectable HIV prevention medication administered twice a year, offering a major advantage over existing daily oral pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) options.
“The Government of Nigeria is advancing preparations for the introduction and rollout of Lenacapavir as Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP),” the statement said. “This is part of the government’s commitment to strengthen HIV prevention and accelerate progress toward epidemic control.”
NACA disclosed that the drug will be made available in Nigeria and 119 other low- and middle-income countries at a subsidised cost of $40 per person per year, following voluntary licensing agreements with generic pharmaceutical manufacturers.
As part of readiness efforts, the agency said it has completed landscape and preparedness assessments in 10 states — Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Benue, Cross River, Ebonyi, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Gombe, Kano, Kwara and Lagos.
“These milestones, alongside regulatory approval by NAFDAC, place Nigeria in a strong position to commence deployment,” the agency noted, adding that Lenacapavir consignments are expected to arrive this month.
Nigeria currently has an estimated 1.9 million people living with HIV, with a national prevalence rate of 1.3% among adults aged 15–49 years. Data from five years ago show 74,000 new HIV infections and 51,000 AIDS-related deaths nationwide.
Regional figures indicate that the South-South geopolitical zone bears the highest burden, with a prevalence rate of 3.1%, while women aged 15–49 are more than twice as likely to be living with HIV compared to men.
Health experts say the introduction of Lenacapavir could significantly alter Nigeria’s HIV prevention landscape by improving adherence, reducing new infections, and accelerating progress toward ending the epidemic.
