The National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA) says it remains the only government agency authorised to produce, analyse, and disseminate HIV data and estimates in Nigeria.
The agency issued the clarification following the circulation of an unauthorised report on social media claiming to show state-by-state HIV figures from January to March 2026.
In a statement signed by its Director-General, Temitope Ilori, NACA stressed that the document was not approved and did not follow established procedures for requesting and publishing HIV-related information.
NACA explained that HIV data cannot be independently extracted or shared without proper validation, noting that strict guidelines are in place to ensure accurate interpretation and responsible public communication.
The agency further clarified that although the figures in the circulating report appear to have been sourced from the National Data Repository dashboard, they only reflect HIV positivity results from routine testing in health facilities and do not represent the actual HIV burden across states.
According to NACA, HIV positivity rates should not be confused with prevalence or incidence, and therefore cannot be used to rank states. It added that variations in figures may be influenced by population size, testing coverage, and reporting gaps.
Describing any ranking based on the data as inaccurate and misleading, NACA advised individuals and organisations seeking HIV-related information to follow due process by submitting formal requests through appropriate channels.
The agency also urged the public to disregard the report, warning that misuse of public health data could create confusion and undermine efforts to control HIV/AIDS in Nigeria.
(Editor: Ada Ononye)
