Fresh data from Nigeria’s National Data Repository has revealed a growing HIV treatment burden across the South-East, with the five states in the region accounting for more than 215,000 persons currently receiving treatment as of May 13, 2026.
The figures showed that Enugu recorded the highest number in the South-East with 55,478 patients on HIV treatment, followed by Abia with 50,038 cases. Imo posted 47,863, while Anambra recorded 46,602 patients currently undergoing treatment.
Ebonyi, the fifth South-East state, recorded 15,474 patients on treatment, bringing the total number of people currently receiving HIV medication across the region to 215,455.
The development places the South-East among Nigeria’s major HIV treatment zones despite years of public enlightenment campaigns, donor-funded interventions and government-backed health programmes designed to curb the spread of the virus.
Nationally, Benue State emerged with the highest number of HIV patients on treatment, recording 195,305 cases. Akwa Ibom followed with 158,201, while Lagos ranked third with 135,918 patients currently receiving treatment.
Rivers State posted 90,055 cases, making it one of the country’s highest-burden states after Benue, Akwa Ibom and Lagos. Nasarawa and the Federal Capital Territory also recorded high numbers with 65,996 and 62,627 patients respectively.
Kaduna recorded 58,576 cases, Cross River posted 57,765, while Delta and Taraba registered 52,475 and 51,840 respectively, further highlighting the nationwide spread of the virus across different regions.
Public health experts say the rising figures may indicate wider access to HIV testing and improved availability of antiretroviral drugs. However, they warned that the statistics also expose the scale of infections still being managed across Nigeria despite years of intervention efforts.
According to the National Data Repository data published under TheCable Index, approximately 1.70 million Nigerians are currently receiving HIV treatment, with analysts warning that gaps in awareness, poverty and healthcare access remain major obstacles in the country’s HIV response efforts.
