Nigeria’s HIV burden remains a major public health concern, with newly released figures from the National Data Repository showing that 577 people tested positive for HIV in Imo State between March and May 2026, placing the state 15th nationally and fifth in the South-East.
The data, which captured newly diagnosed HIV-positive cases across the country over the three-month period, revealed that Lagos recorded the highest number with 1,949 cases, followed by Akwa Ibom with 1,542 and Benue with 1,442.
In the South-East, Anambra emerged as the region’s hotspot with 1,331 new cases, ranking fourth nationally. Imo followed with 577 cases, ahead of Abia with 520, Enugu with 461 and Ebonyi with 271.
The figures indicate that the South-East accounted for more than 3,100 newly diagnosed HIV-positive cases during the review period, underscoring concerns among public health experts over the continued spread of the virus in the region.
Although Imo ranked behind Anambra in the regional chart, health stakeholders say the state’s 577 new cases within three months remain significant and call for intensified testing, awareness campaigns and treatment interventions.
Across the country, Rivers recorded 1,112 new cases to occupy fifth position, while Delta reported 753. Kaduna, Ogun and Oyo states also posted high numbers with 725, 719 and 710 cases respectively.
The Federal Capital Territory recorded 639 cases, while Kano and Nasarawa reported 626 and 607 cases respectively. Taraba and Plateau completed the top 15 states with 598 and 579 cases.
At the lower end of the table, Yobe recorded the least number of newly diagnosed cases with 114, followed by Ekiti with 134 and Sokoto with 152. Katsina and Jigawa posted 199 and 206 cases respectively.
Public health experts caution that the figures represent newly identified HIV-positive individuals and do not necessarily reflect the total number of people living with the virus in each state. One of the experts, Sam Uwandu, a med lab scientist in Owerri noted that testing coverage, access to healthcare facilities and surveillance capacity often influence the number of cases detected.
The latest statistics are expected to renew calls for stronger prevention measures, expanded access to testing services and sustained public education campaigns, particularly in the South-East where Anambra and Imo continue to record some of the region’s highest numbers of newly diagnosed HIV cases.
