Nigeria has taken a significant step forward in its fight against HIV/AIDS with the arrival of Lenacapavir, a long-acting injectable drug designed to prevent HIV infection and expand the country’s prevention options.
Health authorities confirmed that the first shipment of the drug recently arrived in the country, marking a new phase in Nigeria’s efforts to reduce new HIV infections and accelerate progress toward epidemic control.
Unlike traditional daily oral pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) medications, Lenacapavir is administered once every six months, providing extended protection against HIV with just two injections a year. Health experts say this long-acting approach could significantly improve adherence, particularly among individuals who struggle to maintain a daily medication routine.
The introduction of the drug follows regulatory approval from the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and preparations by national health authorities, including readiness assessments and training programmes for healthcare workers across several states.
Officials say the rollout will be integrated into Nigeria’s national HIV prevention programme through collaboration between the Federal Ministry of Health and the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA), alongside support from international health partners.
Lenacapavir belongs to a new class of antiretroviral drugs known as capsid inhibitors, which block key stages of the virus’s life cycle. Clinical studies have shown the injection to be highly effective in preventing HIV infection, making it one of the most promising prevention breakthroughs in recent years.
Nigeria currently has an estimated 1.9 million people living with HIV, with thousands of new infections recorded annually. Public health experts believe the introduction of the twice-yearly injection could significantly strengthen prevention efforts, particularly among populations at higher risk of exposure.
Health officials say the new intervention will complement existing HIV programmes, including testing, treatment, counselling, and community education, while broadening prevention options available to Nigerians.
As the country expands access to modern prevention tools, innovations like Lenacapavir are expected to play an important role in Nigeria’s long-term goal of ending HIV as a public health threat.
