ASABA/Nigeria: Delta State recorded 2,469 new HIV infections in 2025, placing it among the states with the highest number of fresh cases nationwide, according to the State of the Health of the Nation Report 2025 released by the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare.
The latest figures underscore the continued public health challenge facing the state despite ongoing efforts to curb the spread of the virus through expanded testing, treatment and awareness programmes.
According to the report, Delta ranked among 20 states that recorded more than 2,000 new HIV infections during the year. Nationally, Nigeria recorded 102,025 new infections across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Lagos State topped the list with 10,430 new infections, followed by Rivers State with 6,287 and Kano State with 6,106. Other states with high infection rates included Akwa Ibom State (5,413), Taraba State (4,854), Benue State (4,804), Anambra State (4,468) and Kaduna State (3,659).
The report further showed that Delta’s 2,469 new infections exceeded those recorded in several states, highlighting the need for sustained interventions to reduce transmission and improve access to preventive and treatment services.
While acknowledging progress made in expanding access to antiretroviral therapy and reducing AIDS-related deaths across the country, the report stressed that HIV remains a major public health concern requiring continuous government attention and community participation.
The National Agency for the Control of AIDS, the report noted, has continued to strengthen Nigeria’s response to the epidemic by expanding free HIV testing services, increasing access to life-saving antiretroviral drugs, scaling up prevention of mother-to-child transmission programmes, promoting pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for high-risk populations and enhancing disease surveillance.
Nigeria is also pursuing the global 95-95-95 HIV targets, which seek to ensure that 95 per cent of people living with HIV know their status, 95 per cent of those diagnosed are placed on sustained treatment, and 95 per cent of those receiving treatment achieve viral suppression.
However, health experts warned that dwindling international donor funding could jeopardise the gains recorded over the years if domestic investment in HIV prevention, treatment and care is not substantially increased.
Similarly, the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS has urged Nigeria and other high-burden countries to sustain investments in prevention, testing and treatment, warning that disruptions in HIV services could trigger a resurgence of new infections.
The report serves as a fresh reminder of the need for intensified public enlightenment, regular HIV testing, early treatment and stronger collaboration among government agencies, healthcare providers and community stakeholders to reduce the burden of the disease in Delta State and across the country.
