Demand for Lenacapavir, a twice-yearly injectable HIV prevention medication, is increasing among eligible Nigerians, with supply shortages reported in some states participating in the Federal Government’s pilot programme.
Findings reported by Saturday PUNCH indicate that Benue, Kwara, Gombe and Cross River have experienced stock-outs only months after the rollout of the long-acting HIV prevention injection.
In Cross River State, health workers said demand had increased particularly among sex workers, some of whom reportedly prefer the injection because it is more discreet and convenient than taking oral pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) every day.
The situation differs in Lagos, where health officials said adequate supplies were available but uptake remained low. The state has consequently been encouraging eligible residents to come forward and access the preventive medication.
The National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA) attributed some of the supply challenges to logistics and funding constraints, while stressing that stock-outs in individual states should not be interpreted as a nationwide shortage.
Lenacapavir is a long-acting HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis drug developed by Gilead Sciences. Unlike daily oral PrEP, it is administered once every six months and provides eligible HIV-negative people with another option for HIV prevention.
The Federal Government received 11,520 doses of Lenacapavir on March 19, 2026, and distributed the initial supply to 10 pilot locations: Benue, Kwara, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Gombe, Anambra, Ebonyi, Kano, Lagos and the Federal Capital Territory.
In Benue, more than 2,000 HIV-negative people had received the injection since its introduction in May, according to the state Commissioner for Health and Human Services, Dr Paul Ogwuche. The initial allocation has since been exhausted at participating health facilities, although officials described the situation as temporary and said additional supplies were being processed.
Kwara has also exhausted its initial allocation, with state officials reporting strong demand and expecting additional doses to replenish supplies.
In Cross River, health workers said awareness campaigns and counselling contributed to increased uptake after an initially slow response. Some facilities reportedly had people waiting for new supplies.
NACA officials explained that the pilot programme was designed to help authorities assess demand, storage, healthcare-worker capacity, logistics and distribution before a wider national rollout.
Meanwhile, Anambra recently received a fresh supply after exhausting its initial allocation.
The varying situation across states highlights both the growing interest in long-acting HIV prevention and the logistical challenges involved in distributing a new health commodity across different parts of the country.
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