Sanwo-Olu charges stakeholders to rethink HIV response amid global aid shift

Lagos State has strengthened its position at the forefront of Nigeria’s HIV response as Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu formally declared the 7th National Council on AIDS (NCA) closed, calling on stakeholders to champion sustainable and inclusive interventions amidst changing global health dynamics.

Represented by the Deputy Governor, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, Sanwo-Olu emphasised the significance of the three-day gathering, which convened national and international actors across the HIV response spectrum.

He described the event as a vital forum for “engagement, knowledge exchange, and policy alignment” on strategies for sustaining HIV programmes in the face of dwindling external aid.

“Over the past three days, we have examined, reflected, and deliberated on a theme that is both relevant and bold – ‘Advancing the HIV Sustainability Agenda in the Changing Global Policy on Aid.’ It reminds us that the tides of global funding are shifting, and with it, the urgent need to reshape our national HIV architecture to ensure long-term impact and national ownership,” Sanwo-Olu stated.

He highlighted Lagos State’s efforts to localise the HIV response, citing achievements such as expanded community-based testing, enhanced treatment linkages, rollout of self-testing initiatives, and targeted prevention campaigns for vulnerable groups including adolescents and women.

The state, he added, has also strengthened data infrastructure and bolstered engagement with religious and traditional leaders, while pioneering integrated services at the primary healthcare level.

Urging collective action, Sanwo-Olu said, “Success in controlling and eventually eliminating HIV will only be achieved through evidence-driven policies, inclusive partnerships, and resilient systems.”

Also speaking, Chairman of the House Committee on HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria, Hon. Amobi Godwin Ogah, described the conference as timely and strategic.

He revealed that President Bola Tinubu had approved $200 million for the fight against AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria (ATM) following the suspension of international health sector funding.

“This intervention by President Tinubu reflects a firm national commitment to closing funding gaps and maintaining the momentum in our fight against HIV and related diseases,” Ogah said.

He pledged that the National Assembly and other stakeholders would continue to collaborate on resource mobilisation and innovative solutions to bolster Nigeria’s ATM response.

In his remarks, Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, outlined Lagos State’s long-term strategy to lower the cost of care and ensure drug security by becoming a pharmaceutical manufacturing hub.

He noted that the state’s medical industrial zone within the Lekki Free Trade Zone has begun attracting investment from both local and global pharmaceutical companies, with a particular focus on the production of antiretroviral medications.

At the opening of the conference, Dr. Temitope Ilori, Director-General of the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA), described the council as “more than a meeting,” noting its role as Nigeria’s highest HIV policy-making and coordination platform.

She assured delegates that the council would accelerate the implementation of the national sustainability plan, with a focus on expanding access to prevention, treatment, and support services.

Delivering the vote of thanks, CEO of the Lagos State AIDS Control Agency, Dr. Folakemi Animashaun, praised the collaborative spirit of the conference and described it as a milestone in Nigeria’s HIV response history.

“The resolutions reached here will not only scale up innovative financing but also enhance support for community-led monitoring and strengthen accountability frameworks across the HIV landscape,” she said.

The 7th National Council on AIDS concluded with a renewed national commitment to innovation, sustainability, and local ownership in the fight against HIV/AIDS.