Nigeria is experiencing shortages of Lenacapavir, the twice-yearly injectable drug used for HIV prevention, with several states reporting stock-outs as demand for the medication continues to rise.

The supply challenges have affected access to the long-acting preventive injection, which has been welcomed by health professionals as a significant advancement in HIV prevention because it requires only two doses a year.

Health authorities said the shortages are linked to a combination of growing demand, distribution bottlenecks and funding constraints affecting the procurement and delivery of the medicine across the country.

Officials disclosed that efforts are already underway to restore supplies, with measures being taken to strengthen logistics, improve distribution and ensure that available stock reaches treatment centres and high-priority communities.

The shortage comes at a time when Nigeria is expanding access to innovative HIV prevention tools as part of its broader strategy to reduce new infections, particularly among populations at higher risk of contracting the virus.

Public health experts have stressed that while Lenacapavir offers a promising alternative to daily oral pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), sustained funding and efficient supply chains will be critical to ensuring uninterrupted access for eligible beneficiaries.