Health Officials Sound Alarm as New HIV Infections Surge in Nigeria and Ketu South

Public health authorities in West Africa have raised significant concerns following reports of rising HIV infection rates in Nigeria and Ghana’s Ketu South Municipality. In Nigeria, the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare’s 'State of the Health of the Nation Report 2025' revealed that the country recorded a staggering 102,025 new HIV infections within a single year. Lagos State emerged as the epicenter of the burden, accounting for 10,430 of those new cases. The report highlights the persistent challenges in controlling the epidemic across Nigeria’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, despite sustained governmental and non-governmental prevention efforts.

Parallel to the situation in Nigeria, the Ketu South Municipal Health Directorate in Ghana has reported a worrying upward trend in local infections. Data shared by the Municipal Health Director, Mr. David Agbokpe, indicates that in 2024, the municipality recorded 275 positive cases from 13,738 screenings. This number rose to 300 infections out of 18,790 screenings in 2025. The trend appears to be accelerating in 2026, with the first half of the year already seeing 194 positive cases from 7,908 tests, representing a positivity rate of 2.45%.

Health officials attribute the rise in Ketu South to a combination of high-risk social behaviors and the municipality's unique geographical position. Mr. Agbokpe specifically identified unprotected sex and frequent cross-border movements as primary drivers of the transmission. Furthermore, late-night social gatherings and community events have been flagged as high-risk environments where preventive measures are often ignored, particularly among younger populations.

In response to these developments, health directorates are intensifying public education and surveillance initiatives. The Ketu South Health Directorate is urging community stakeholders to take a more active role in awareness campaigns, emphasizing the critical importance of voluntary testing and consistent condom use. As both Nigeria and Ghana grapple with these figures, the data underscores an urgent need for revitalized HIV prevention strategies and stronger regional cooperation to address the socio-economic and behavioral factors fueling the spread of the virus.