The Lagos State government on Thursday disclosed that about 160,000 residents are currently living with the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). The Chief Executive Officer of the Lagos State AIDS Control Agency (LSACA), Dr. Folakemi Animashaun, shared the figure during a press conference to mark the 2025 World AIDS Day, themed “Overcoming Disruptions: Sustaining Nigeria’s HIV Response”. Animashaun commended Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s leadership, noting that his administration’s commitment continues to strengthen the state’s health systems and community networks.
She explained that while hospitals and treatment centres in Lagos maintained uninterrupted services in 2025, community structures faced major setbacks due to the Stop Work Order issued by the US government. The directive disrupted essential services such as HIV testing, counselling, and psychosocial support—especially for adolescents, key populations, and residents in hard-to-reach areas. According to her, the disruptions reinforced the crucial role of community-based engagement in early diagnosis, treatment access, and prevention education. She praised peer educators, faith-based groups, youth advocates, and civil society organisations for adapting quickly and restoring outreach efforts across the state.
“As of January to September 2025, Lagos State has an estimated 160,000 residents living with HIV, with 147,466 on antiretroviral treatment,” she said. “Within the same period, 222,415 HIV tests were conducted—only 28.9 per cent of last year’s figure—showing the significant impact of the stop-order directive.” She added that the ongoing Statewide Community HIV Testing Campaign, which began on November 18, 2025, is yielding promising results. So far, 9,943 residents have been tested—3,402 males and 6,541 females—with a positivity rate of 2.0 per cent. All positive individuals have been linked to treatment. Young adults aged 20–35 make up the largest share of those tested, while strong female participation has been recorded in Ikorodu, Badagry, Ojo, and Mushin.
Animashaun noted that this year’s World AIDS Day activities are aimed at strengthening awareness, early detection, and community resilience. The schedule includes a Jumat Service on Friday, November 28; a novelty football match on Saturday, November 29; a church service on Sunday, November 30; and an awareness walk and empowerment programme on Monday, December 1. The events will conclude with the World AIDS Day Symposium on Tuesday, December 2.
Ndume calls for withdrawal of police officers from VIPs and National Assembly
Senator Ali Ndume, representing Borno South, has urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to extend the withdrawal of police officers attached to VIPs to members of the National Assembly. Ndume made the call while reacting to the President’s directive ordering the withdrawal of police personnel from VIP guard duties due to rising insecurity nationwide. He argued that the number of police officers attached to lawmakers and politicians is excessive, adding that some legislators even assign security officers to their wives and children.
He described the situation as “an insult,” noting that Abuja would not require heavy security escorts if the Federal Capital Territory were properly secured.“I thought today I would not see so many police in the National Assembly, but there are still too many. Some ministers have police officers attached to their wives and children,” he said on Channels Television’s Politics Today. “I even know a politically exposed person whose grown-up son moves with a convoy.”
Ndume said he once rejected having multiple officers assigned to him, opting instead for only one orderly. He explained that his choice was based on personal principles and the need for accountability, not fear for his safety.The senator also criticised Senate President Godswill Akpabio’s claim that Nigeria has effective satellite monitoring capabilities. He noted that abductions continue unabated, citing the recent abduction of 13 teenage girls by ISWAP in his constituency, with no updates yet on their whereabouts.
He further referenced the case of Major General A.M. Uba, who has been missing in action, questioning the lack of concrete information about his status.Ndume called on the federal government to procure more satellites, saying Nigeria’s current capacity is insufficient for effective surveillance.
Following Tinubu’s directive, Inspector General of Police Kayode Egbetokun announced that 11,566 police personnel had been withdrawn from VIP duty posts and redeployed to underserved communities. He described the move as a strategic effort to strengthen frontline policing across the country.
Source: https://theinformant247.com/
