In a statement released on Sunday via X, the ministry described the information as false and clarified that it does not reflect any official health statistics.
“No state in Nigeria has an HIV prevalence rate anywhere near the figures quoted. The Ministry has not issued any such advisory, and the wording, numbers, and format circulating are not consistent with official communication,” the statement read.
The graphic, designed to mimic the ministry’s branding, falsely claims that HIV rates in Port Harcourt have increased from 43% to 86%, affecting over 180,000 females and 456,000 males, with 40% of cases purportedly among those aged 16 to 25. It also ends with a fabricated public advisory declaring the city “not safe” and urging residents to take precautions.
The ministry urged the public to disregard the fake post, avoid sharing unverified health information, and rely solely on official channels for accurate updates. It reiterated that verified HIV data is available through the National AIDS and STIs Control Programme (NASCP), the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA), and periodic publications from the ministry.
The Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare reaffirmed its commitment to providing Nigerians with reliable, evidence-based health information to safeguard public health and combat misinformation.