Nigeria unveils HIV strategy to cut donor dependence

Nigeria has introduced a new National HIV and AIDS Strategic Plan (NSP) for 2026-2030, marking a significant shift towards a sustainable, locally driven response. The plan's primary goal is to reduce the country's heavy dependence on donor funding, a model now deemed unsustainable due to dwindling external support. "The HIV response stands at a very defining moment," stated Dr. Temitope Ilori, Director-General of the National Agency for the Control of AIDS. "Over the past two decades, the country has made significant progress in reducing infections and expanding access to treatment. This has been supported by strong partnerships, global solidarity and sustained national commitment." Ilori explained that the strategy was developed through extensive consultations with various stakeholders, including government agencies, civil society, people living with HIV, and development partners. The new framework prioritizes integrating HIV interventions into broader sectors like healthcare and education to enhance efficiency and service delivery. "The NSP introduces a transformative approach anchored on integration, innovation and systemic strengthening," Ilori said. "Prevention is being reframed to address both current and future risks, with greater focus on the general population, especially adolescents and young people." The plan also incorporates digital health solutions and local manufacturing to sustain HIV programs. Dr. John Ovuoraye, Director of Health Planning, Research and Statistics at the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, urged stakeholders to actively implement the plan. "We now have a strategic plan. The question is, what next? Let this not be another document that sits on the shelf. We must engage with it, understand it and implement it accordingly," he stressed. The plan champions inclusivity, particularly for persons with disabilities and other vulnerable groups, aiming for an HIV epidemic controlled through a nationally owned response that "leaves no one behind."

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The HIV response stands at a very defining moment. Over the past two decades, the country has made significant progress in reducing infections and expanding access to treatment. This has been supported by strong partnerships, global solidarity and sustained national commitment.