Full List of States with the Highest Number of People Who Newly Tested Positive in 2026
- Nigeria has recorded thousands of new HIV cases between January and March, 2026, according to official data
- Lagos leads the list with the highest number of newly tested positive patients, followed by Benue and Akwa Ibom
- The figures reveal both regional differences and the scale of the public health challenge across the country
Fresh data from the National Data Repository, quoted by TheCableIndex, shows the number of newly tested HIV positive patients across Nigeria between January and March, 2026.
The figures highlight Lagos as the state with the highest number of new cases, followed closely by Benue and Akwa Ibom.
Source: Getty Images
Lagos records highest HIV cases
Lagos reported 2,298 new HIV positive patients, making it the state with the highest number in the country during this period. Benue came second with 1,949 cases, while Akwa Ibom recorded 1,159 cases.
Other states with high HIV numbers
Several other states also reported significant figures:
- Rivers: 1,137
- Anambra: 1,013
- Kaduna: 842
- Delta: 803
- Oyo: 763
- Ogun: 751
These numbers show that HIV remains a pressing public health issue across multiple regions.
States with moderate HIV cases
The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) reported 579 cases, while Abia recorded 527. Edo, Enugu, and Kano also featured prominently with 512, 479, and 476 cases respectively. Other states such as Kogi (422) and Cross River (396) reported moderate figures.
States with lower HIV numbers
Towards the bottom of the list, Sokoto reported 110 cases, Yobe had 100, and Ekiti recorded 129. Zamfara and Jigawa also reported relatively lower numbers with 140 and 177 respectively.
1. Lagos: 2,298
2. Benue: 1,949
3. Akwa Ibom: 1,159
4. Rivers: 1,137
5. Anambra: 1,013
6. Kaduna: 842
7. Delta: 803
8. Oyo: 763
9. Ogun: 751
10. Plateau: 662
11. Imo: 640
12. Nasarawa: 615
13. Taraba: 605
14. FCT: 579
15. Abia: 527
16. Edo: 512
17. Enugu: 479
18. Kano: 476
19. Kogi: 422
20. Cross River: 396
21. Niger: 387
22. Adamawa: 382
23. Ondo: 379
24. Kwara: 329
25. Osun: 279
26. Bayelsa: 264
27. Ebonyi: 253
28. Gombe: 252
29. Borno: 238
30. Katsina: 216
31. Bauchi: 210
32. Kebbi: 196
33. Jigawa: 177
34. Zamfara: 140
35. Ekiti: 129
36. Sokoto: 110
37. Yobe: 100
What the numbers mean
The figures underline the importance of continued awareness, testing, and treatment programmes across Nigeria. Lagos and Benue, with the highest numbers, may require intensified public health interventions to curb the spread.
Source: Getty Images
WHO mentions injection that can prevent HIV
Legit.ng earlier reported that on July 14, 2025, the World Health Organization (WHO) announced new guidelines recommending twice-yearly injectable lenacapavir as an additional pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) option for HIV prevention.
WHO reported that large trials showed near-complete protection against HIV, including zero infections in one major study and very few in another.
The organisation stated that this guidance brings new momentum to a prevention response that has slowed, while also raising questions about access, equity, and delivery readiness.
Source: Legit.ng
