The Lagos State AIDS Control Agency has warned that stigma, discrimination, gender-based violence and denial of essential services could frustrate efforts to prevent and control HIV in the state.
In a statement issued on Thursday, the agency said these barriers continue to deter key populations — including sex workers, men who have sex with men, and people who inject drugs — from accessing testing, treatment and care. The agency noted that fear of disclosure, abuse at health facilities and societal prejudice often prevent individuals from seeking services, undermining the state’s HIV response.
The agency consequently called for stronger legal and policy frameworks to protect rights, as well as community-based interventions to address the root causes of stigma and gender-based violence. It said law enforcement agencies, health workers and traditional institutions must be sensitised to the specific needs of people living with HIV and marginalised groups.
The warning comes as Nigeria records an estimated 1.9 million people living with HIV, with Lagos accounting for a significant proportion of the national burden. According to the National Agency for the Control of AIDS, Lagos state has a prevalence rate of approximately 5.1 per cent among adults, translating to over 200,000 people living with the virus.
Activists said the agency’s warning validates long-standing concerns. "Stigma and violence are not just moral issues — they are public health emergencies," said a representative of a Lagos-based network of people living with HIV. "When people fear discrimination or abuse, they stop coming for their medication. That puts everyone at risk."
The agency also highlighted the intersection of gender-based violence and HIV, noting that women and girls experiencing intimate partner violence are less likely to negotiate safer sex or access prevention tools such as pre-exposure prophylaxis. The agency called for integrated services that combine HIV care with GBV response mechanisms, saying siloed approaches have failed to reach those most in need.
Human rights organisations have echoed the call, urging the state government to fast-track the anti-discrimination bill pending in the Lagos State House of Assembly and to ensure that health facilities operate without bias. The Lagos State Ministry of Health said it was reviewing the agency’s recommendations and would collaborate with civil society on a comprehensive response strategy.
The agency warned that without addressing these social barriers, Nigeria’s goal of ending AIDS as a public health threat by 2030 — and Lagos’s own targets — risk being delayed. It said sustained commitment from all sectors of society is essential to reverse the trend and ensure that no one is left behind in the HIV response.