Nigeria Urged to Declare TB Emergency Over Stock-Outs

ABUJA, Nigeria – The Network of People Living with HIV/AIDS in Nigeria (NEPWHAN) urges the Federal Government to declare a national public health emergency over worsening tuberculosis (TB) commodity stock-outs, warning that lives are being lost due to treatment disruptions.

National Coordinator, NEPWHAN, Abdulkadir Ibrahim makes the call during a press briefing in Abuja, describing the situation as a “life-threatening crisis” affecting people living with HIV and other vulnerable groups.

“We are deeply alarmed by the continued stock-outs of TB medicines and diagnostics across the country,” Ibrahim said.

“This is not just a supply issue; it is a public health emergency that is costing lives, especially among people living with HIV who are highly vulnerable to TB infection and death.”

According to the data, 64.2 per cent of facilities report stock-outs of at least one essential TB commodity, while 58.2 per cent record shortages of GeneXpert cartridges and sputum collection materials.

He adds that 43 per cent of 921 patients interviewed report being asked to return later due to unavailability of essential medicines and diagnostics.

Ibrahim warns that delays in treatment worsen outcomes and increase transmission risks across communities.

He also raises concern over shortages of medicines for opportunistic infections, particularly among patients with advanced HIV disease.

“This is especially dangerous for patients with advanced HIV disease when essential medicines are not available, we are effectively pushing vulnerable people closer to preventable deaths,” he says.

He notes that facilities in several states, including Rivers and Benue, report complete stock-outs of opportunistic infection medicines.

The group criticises weak domestic financing for TB programmes, warning that Nigeria’s reliance on external funding is unsustainable.

Ibrahim says there are currently no confirmed government funds for 2026 TB interventions, while a $54 million counterpart funding commitment remains unpaid.

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Mirian Gom

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Gom Mirian AHR Senior Correspondent, has over 8 years’ experience reporting on health, crime, education, investigations, and development issues across Nigeria and Africa. With dual degrees in Economics, she combines analytical skill with compelling storytelling. Widely recognised for her public health and humanitarian reporting, she earned a Nestlé Award nomination for compelling human-interest journalism. Follow her on Twitter @mirian_linus.

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