• The Federal Capital Territory Administration will officially launch Lenacapavir, a long-acting injectable HIV prevention drug, in Abuja today
• The rollout ceremony is scheduled to hold at Asokoro District Hospital
• The FCT is one of eight pilot locations selected for the first phase of deployment

The Federal Capital Territory Administration is set to begin the rollout of Lenacapavir, a long-acting injectable drug for HIV prevention, in Abuja today, Tuesday, April 28, as part of efforts to reduce new infections and strengthen the country’s HIV response.

The launch will take place at Asokoro District Hospital and is being coordinated by the FCT HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis and STIs Control Programme in partnership with the FCT Agency for the Control of AIDS and the National AIDS, Viral Hepatitis and STIs Control Programme.

The development was announced in a press invitation issued on Monday, April 27, by the FCT Public Health Department.

It read, “The FCT HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis and STIs Control Programme and the FCT Agency for the Control of AIDS are pleased to invite you to the flag-off ceremony for the rollout of Lenacapavir as an injectable PrEP option in the FCT.

“This important event will be held in collaboration with the National AIDS, Viral Hepatitis and STIs Control Programme on Tuesday at Asokoro District Hospital, Abuja.”

Lenacapavir introduces a new approach to HIV prevention in Nigeria.

Unlike conventional pre-exposure prophylaxis medications that must be taken daily, the drug is administered just twice a year, offering longer protection and potentially improving adherence among people at risk of infection.

The Federal Government had earlier announced the arrival of 11,520 doses of Lenacapavir in Nigeria, the first batch of a planned 52,000 doses expected to be distributed in phases under a Global Fund-backed programme.

The FCT is among eight pilot locations selected for the first phase of the rollout.

Other states included in the initial implementation are Kwara, Gombe, Ebonyi, Anambra, Akwa Ibom, Cross River and Benue.

Health officials say the pilot phase will help assess uptake, monitor patient response and identify operational challenges before wider national expansion.

The introduction of Lenacapavir is expected to broaden Nigeria’s HIV prevention options, especially for individuals who may struggle with the demands of daily oral PrEP.

Nigeria still carries one of the world’s heaviest HIV burdens, with an estimated 1.9 million people living with the virus, according to national health authorities.

While prevalence has declined over the years, new infections remain a major public health concern.

FG warns pregnant women against new HIV injection as Nigeria rolls out 52,000 doses

Meanwhile, TheRadar earlier reported that the Federal Government had warned pregnant women not to use the newly introduced long-acting HIV prevention injection, Lenacapavir (LenPrEP), citing limited evidence on its safety during pregnancy.

The Director-General of the National Agency for the Control of AIDS, Dr Temitope Ilori, explained that although global clinical trials indicate that Lenacapavir is largely safe, there is not enough data to support its use among pregnant women.