Nigeria’s HIV response programme has recorded over 1.7 million people currently receiving treatment nationwide, with Benue state accounting for the highest number of patients on antiretroviral therapy, according to new figures released by the National Data Repository (NDR).
The latest treatment data, published on May 13, 2026, highlights the scale of Nigeria’s HIV burden as well as ongoing efforts to expand access to lifesaving care across the country.
Benue State recorded the highest number of patients on treatment with 195,305 persons currently receiving HIV care. Akwa Ibom followed with 158,201 patients, while Lagos State recorded 135,918 individuals on treatment.
Rivers State ranked fourth with 90,055 patients, while Nasarawa and the Federal Capital Territory recorded 65,996 and 62,627 patients respectively.
The report also showed significant treatment numbers in Kaduna, Cross River, Enugu, Delta and Taraba states, each recording over 50,000 persons receiving antiretroviral therapy.
Public health experts say the figures reflect both the continued burden of HIV in Nigeria and improvements in access to testing, diagnosis and long-term treatment support.
According to the NDR, states such as Abia, Imo, Plateau, Anambra and Adamawa also recorded high treatment coverage, with each state managing more than 40,000 patients currently enrolled in HIV care programmes.
Northern states including Kano, Kaduna, Bauchi, Katsina and Borno equally recorded substantial treatment figures, underscoring the nationwide spread of the disease.
The repository further revealed that smaller states such as Ekiti, Yobe and Sokoto recorded lower treatment numbers compared to high-burden states, although health officials warn that lower figures may not necessarily reflect lower prevalence rates but could also indicate gaps in testing and diagnosis.
Overall, the National Data Repository placed the total number of Nigerians currently receiving HIV treatment at approximately 1.70 million as of May 13, 2026.
Nigeria remains one of the countries with the highest HIV burden globally, although recent years have seen progress in treatment access, awareness campaigns and prevention efforts supported by both government and international health partners.
Health stakeholders have continued to stress the importance of sustained funding, improved testing coverage, early diagnosis and uninterrupted access to antiretroviral drugs to achieve epidemic control and reduce HIV-related deaths nationwide.
