The plan, which covers the period from 2026 to 2030, was unveiled in Abuja on Thursday by the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA) amid growing concerns about declining international donor funding for HIV programmes across Africa.
Health officials say the strategy marks a significant shift from the long-standing donor-driven model that has supported Nigeria's HIV response for more than two decades, towards a framework built on national leadership, innovation, and sustainability.
Speaking at the launch, NACA Director-General, Dr. Temitope Ilori, described the new strategy as a necessary response to changing realities in global health financing and Nigeria's evolving HIV epidemic.
"The HIV response stands at a very defining moment. Over the past two decades, the country has made significant progress in reducing infections and expanding access to treatment. This has been supported by strong partnerships, global solidarity and sustained national commitment," Ilori said.
She noted that while Nigeria has recorded substantial achievements in HIV prevention, treatment, and care, the future of those gains will depend on the country's ability to build a more self-sustaining system.
"A central driver for this new plan is the recognition that the current donor-dependent model is no longer sustainable. With dwindling external funding, Nigeria must transition to a new business model with emphasis on sustainability, country ownership and a country-led response," she added.
According to Ilori, the strategic plan was developed through extensive consultations involving government institutions, civil society organisations, networks of people living with HIV, development partners, technical experts, private-sector stakeholders, and representatives of persons with disabilities.
The inclusive approach, she explained, was designed to ensure that the new framework reflects the needs of all communities affected by HIV while strengthening collaboration among key actors in the response.
One of the major features of the plan is the integration of HIV services into wider sectors such as healthcare, education, youth development, gender programmes, and the justice system. Officials believe this approach will improve efficiency, reduce duplication, and strengthen long-term service delivery.
"The NSP introduces a transformative approach anchored on integration, innovation and systemic strengthening. Prevention is being reframed to address both current and future risks, with greater focus on the general population, especially adolescents and young people," Ilori said.
She further disclosed that digital health technologies, innovative service delivery models, and local manufacturing initiatives would form part of efforts to ensure the sustainability of HIV interventions in the coming years.
"The vision is clear: an HIV epidemic that is controlled through a sustainable, integrated and nationally owned response that leaves no one behind," she stated.
Stakeholders at the launch emphasised that the success of the plan will depend largely on implementation and sustained commitment from governments, development partners, healthcare providers, and communities.
The Director of Health Planning, Research and Statistics at the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Dr. John Ovuoraye, urged stakeholders to move beyond policy discussions and focus on practical execution.
"We now have a strategic plan. The question is, what next? Let this not be another document that sits on the shelf. We must engage with it, understand it and implement it accordingly," Ovuoraye said.
He stressed that inclusivity remains a central pillar of the strategy, particularly for persons with disabilities and other vulnerable populations who often face barriers to accessing healthcare services.
"We are promoting inclusive health and universal health coverage. This strategic plan reflects our commitment to ensuring that nobody is left behind," he added.
Representatives of international partners also welcomed the launch, describing the document as critical to achieving both national and global HIV targets.
Speaking on behalf of the United Nations Joint Team on HIV/AIDS, Dr. Doris Ogba said the strategy provides a comprehensive roadmap for Nigeria's HIV response and aligns with the global UNAIDS 95-95-95 targets, which aim to ensure that 95 per cent of people living with HIV know their status, 95 per cent of those diagnosed receive treatment, and 95 per cent of those on treatment achieve viral suppression.
"The NSP is an all-important document for the HIV response. It sets out what we want to do, how we want to do it, the strategies we will employ and the targets we have set for ourselves," Ogba said.
She encouraged stakeholders at all levels to actively utilise the document in designing and implementing HIV programmes.
"Let us engage with the document, adapt it for our local programmes and use it to guide our interventions. Together, it can help us achieve the 95-95-95 targets and move closer to ending AIDS in Nigeria," she added.
The National Coordinator of the Network of People Living with HIV/AIDS in Nigeria (NEPWHAN), Dr. Abdulkadri Ibrahim, also expressed support for the initiative, describing the plan as a timely and evidence-based framework for strengthening the national response.
"This is a guiding document, and we are happy to have it at this critical point in time. We will continue to use the data, the evidence and the strategies outlined in the plan to drive programmes across the country," Ibrahim said.
Nigeria operates one of the world's largest HIV treatment programmes and has made considerable progress over the years in reducing new infections and HIV-related deaths. However, experts have consistently warned that sustaining those gains will require increased domestic investment, stronger healthcare systems, and deeper integration of HIV services into routine health care.
For years, Nigeria's HIV response has been supported largely through international assistance from partners including the United States President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), the Global Fund, and UNAIDS. Recent uncertainties surrounding donor funding have intensified calls for the country to assume greater responsibility for financing and managing its HIV programmes.
With the adoption of the 2026–2030 National HIV and AIDS Strategic Plan, health authorities hope to build a more resilient and self-reliant response capable of maintaining treatment access, preventing new infections, and advancing the goal of ending AIDS as a public health threat by 2030.
The strategy is expected to serve as Nigeria's primary framework for coordinating HIV prevention, treatment, care, and support services over the next five years, while ensuring that progress made over the past two decades is not only preserved but accelerated. :::