By Ojoma Akor
The Federal Government of Nigeria has expanded the country’s HIV prevention toolkit by introducing long-acting injectable Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP), Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako, said.
He stated this Monday during a media parley on the introduction of the twice-yearly injectable drug, organised by the National AIDS, Viral Hepatitis and STIs Control Programme (NASCP) of the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare in Abuja.
He said lenacapavir provides additional prevention options for individuals at substantial risk of HIV acquisition.
He also said the introduction of lenacapavir represents a major milestone in Nigeria’s HIV prevention response, adding that ” As one of the early adopter countries, Nigeria’s successful implementation of lenacapavir will significantly strengthen national HIV prevention efforts, expand prevention choices for individuals at risk, and accelerate progress toward the national goal of ending HIV/AIDS as a public health threat by 2030.
He said about 52,000 doses of the LEN have been provided to catalyse the introduction of the LEN in the country’s armaments for HIV prevention and control.
He explained that lenacapavir is a long-acting injectable antiretroviral medication used for HIV PrEP among HIV-negative individuals.
The minister also said Nigeria has made significant progress in reducing new HIV infections through the scale-up of HIV prevention programs.
While saying PrEP remains one of the most impactful biomedical tools for preventing HIV infection, he said its strategic expansion is essential for sustaining national gains and accelerating progress toward epidemic control.
He further said the introduction of lenacapavir into the national HIV prevention program is expected to:
-Accelerate the reduction of new HIV infections.
-Expand prevention coverage among populations at substantial risk.
-Improve equity and access to prevention services.
Offer a discreet and adherence-friendly prevention option.
-Contribute to long-term program sustainability by averting new infections and reducing future treatment costs.
Dr. Salako also said lenacapavir will complement existing HIV prevention options, including oral PrEP and long-acting injectable Cabotegravir (CAB-PrEP), thereby expanding prevention choices and enabling individuals to select prevention methods aligned with their preferences and risk profiles.
To guide the introduction and appropriate use of lenacapavir in Nigeria, the minister said a Rapid Advice on lenacapavir for PrEP has been developed to complement the 2024 National Guidelines for HIV Prevention, Treatment, and Care.
“This guidance provides specific recommendations on the use of lenacapavir among key populations and other individuals at substantial risk of HIV infection,” he stated.
He said that a National PrEP Implementation Plan (2025 – 2028) has been developed to provide a clear and coordinated roadmap for scaling up PrEP services across Nigeria.
Dr. Salako highlighted that NASCP coordinated the development of the lenacapavir rollout plan to guide implementation in three phases: planning, preparation, and implementation.
He added that, using programmatic data, Anambra, Ebonyi, Gombe, Kwara, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Benue States, and FCT were selected to roll out LEN PrEP in the country.
He further said Nigeria has begun preparations for a facility-level flag-off to raise awareness and document the remarkable achievement.
“The government of Nigeria under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu remains committed to ending HIV/AIDS as a public health threat by 2030 through a comprehensive and multi-sectoral approach that prioritises the expansion of prevention, treatment, and care services,” Dr. Salako added.
The National Coordinator of the National AIDS and STDs Control Programme, Adebobola Bashorun, said lenacapavir would complement existing HIV prevention methods such as oral pre-exposure prophylaxis.
He said, “We already have multiple prevention options. Individuals can still use oral PrEP. National policy guidelines will determine how best to integrate this new option into existing programmes.”
He also said the federal government is exploring catalytic funding to increase the number of doses and extend coverage to populations most at risk.
Dr. Bashorun explained that there are no documented adverse reactions to lenacapavir. But the common side effects include pain at the injection site, which is expected.
” We are actively monitoring for any adverse reactions, and so far, the outcomes are encouraging,” he said.
The Chief Executive Officer of the Institute of Human Virology Nigeria (IHVN), Dr. Patrick Dakum, said that the launch of lenacapavir is a significant milestone in Nigeria’s HIV prevention response, as it expands the range of prevention options available to people at risk of HIV infection.
Represented by Dr. Aderonke Agbaje, Director of Special Projects, he said that while existing methods like daily oral PrEP are effective, they can be difficult for some individuals to use consistently due to challenges such as adherence, stigma, and access.
He said Len PrEP is not a replacement for existing options but an additional choice within a combination prevention approach.
He said, “By expanding choice and tailoring prevention to individual needs, Nigeria is better positioned to reduce new infections and move closer to ending HIV as a public health threat.”
Dr. Dakum said IHVN is supporting the rollout of Len PrEP through a comprehensive, system-integrated approach aligned with national leadership under the Federal Ministry of Health and NASCP.
He added that key areas of support include:
- Service Delivery: Integrating Len PrEP into existing HIV prevention platforms, including One-Stop Shops, KP-friendly facilities, and selected public health facilities to ensure both access and sustainability.
- Capacity Building: Training healthcare workers, community providers, and peer educators through structured training models, including national trainings and digital platforms such as Instrat VTR for continuous learning.
- Community Engagement and Demand Creation: Working with community networks, civil society, and key population groups to ensure accurate messaging, reduce stigma, and drive uptake.
- Supply Chain and Accountability: Supporting commodity management through national systems, including secure warehousing, last-mile distribution, and traceability mechanisms to ensure product integrity.
- Monitoring and Learning: Strengthening data systems and real-time feedback mechanisms, including tools like ClientShot, to track client experience, inform continuous quality improvement, and guide adaptive implementation.
“Through this coordinated approach, IHVN is helping to ensure that Len PrEP is introduced safely, effectively, and in a way that can be sustained and scaled nationally,” he added.
Also speaking, the Director-General of the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA), Dr. Temitope Ilori, said that the drug is not recommended for pregnant women, and does not protect against sexually transmitted infections.
She said, “It does not prevent sexually transmitted infections, it does not prevent hepatitis, and it does not prevent unwanted pregnancies. It is not a cure; it is a prevention method.”
