Lagos State governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu has called on state legislatures to prioritise the passage and implementation of laws that will ensure sustained HIV funding.
He also urged lawmakers to support legislations that end stigma and promote inclusive service delivery for people living with HIV.
The governor made the appeal during the closing ceremony of the seventh National Council on AIDS, NCA, in Lagos, yesterday.
He was represented by the Deputy Governor, Dr Obafemi Hamzat.
With the theme: “Advancing National HIV Sustainability Agenda in the Changing Global Policy on Aid,’ the event focused on sustaining Nigeria’s HIV response amid declining global donor support.
Sanwo-Olu stressed the need for Nigeria to take full ownership of its HIV programmes, urging a shift from donor dependency to sustainable and homegrown solutions.
“We must shift from dependency to sustainability, from fragmented responses to coordinated systems, and from ad-hoc programming to long-term strategic planning,” he said.
He cited Lagos State’s efforts, including the Lagos State HIV Trust Fund, ongoing reform of the HIV Anti-Stigma Law and the integration of HIV services into broader health systems.
The reforms, he said, demonstrate the state’s commitment to dignity, inclusion and justice.
The governor urged stakeholders to turn NCA’s resolutions into actionable policies that directly impact lives.
Also speaking, the Chairman, House Committee on HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria Control, Amobi Ogah, stressed the importance of increased domestic funding, estimating that Nigeria needs $8 billion annually to sustain its HIV response.
“The Nigerian government must take the lead by increasing funding to the sector,” Ogah said, assuring continued legislative support.
The Director-General, National Agency for the Control of AIDS, NACA, Dr Temitope Ilori, pledged the agency’s commitment to align national and sub-national strategies for a sustainable HIV response.
She highlighted the urgency of implementing the National HIV, Tuberculosis and Malaria Sustainability Plan to ensure comprehensive services for all.
Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Professor Akin Abayomi emphasised the need to prioritise domestic resource mobilisation and institutionalise HIV funding at national and subnational levels.
He said sustainability goes beyond financial investment, highlighting the need for stronger leadership, adaptive systems, innovation and accountable governance.
Abayomi reaffirmed the Lagos State government’s commitment to reduce mother-to-child transmission and scale up treatment and prevention efforts.
“As a country and as states, we must take ownership. HIV care must become cheaper, more accessible and integrated into routine health services. We must also treat HIV as a public health security priority,” he said. (NAN)
