NACA Director-General, Temitope Ilori
ABUJA, Nigeria – The Federal Government has launched the National HIV and AIDS Strategic Plan (NSP) 2026–2030, unveiling a roadmap designed to reduce dependence on donor funding and transition Nigeria’s HIV response to a sustainable, nationally owned model.
Speaking at the launch in Abuja on Thursday, Director-General of the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA), Dr. Temitope Ilori, said the country must adapt to changing realities in global health financing by strengthening domestic ownership of HIV programmes.
According to her, Nigeria has made significant progress in reducing new infections and expanding access to treatment over the past two decades, but declining external support requires a more sustainable approach.
She explained that the new five-year plan prioritises integration of HIV services into broader sectors including healthcare, education, youth development, gender and justice systems.
“The current donor-dependent model is no longer sustainable. Nigeria must transition to a system driven by sustainability, country ownership and nationally led interventions,” she said.
Ilori noted that the strategy was developed through consultations involving government agencies, civil society groups, development partners, private sector stakeholders, technical experts and networks of people living with HIV.
The framework also promotes digital health innovations, local manufacturing of health commodities and improved service delivery models to sustain gains in HIV prevention and treatment.
Director of Health Planning, Research and Statistics at the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Dr. John Ovuoraye, urged stakeholders to focus on implementation, stressing that the success of the strategy would depend on measurable outcomes.
Representing the UN Joint Team on HIV/AIDS, Dr. Doris Ogba described the plan as a critical instrument for achieving the UNAIDS 95-95-95 targets and ending AIDS as a public health threat.
