Supplies of the twice-yearly injectable HIV prevention drug, Lenacapavir, have run out in several Nigerian states following increased demand among eligible residents, including sex workers.

Findings by Saturday PUNCH showed that Benue, Kwara, Gombe and Cross River have experienced stock-outs months after the Federal Government launched the drug as part of a pilot HIV prevention programme.

Lenacapavir is a long-acting HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis drug developed by Gilead Sciences. It is administered once every six months and offers an alternative to daily oral pre-exposure prophylaxis, commonly known as PrEP.

The World Health Organisation recommended Lenacapavir as an additional HIV prevention option in July 2025.

The Federal Government received 11,520 doses on March 19, 2026, before distributing them five days later to 10 pilot locations: Benue, Kwara, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Gombe, Anambra, Ebonyi, Kano, Lagos and the Federal Capital Territory.

Benue exhausts initial supply

In Benue State, more than 2,000 HIV-negative people have received Lenacapavir since the programme began in May, according to the Commissioner for Health and Human Services, Dr Paul Ogwuche.

Ogwuche told Saturday PUNCH that the state’s initial allocation had been exhausted at participating health facilities.

“Benue State has recorded strong early uptake of Lenacapavir,” he said, adding that additional supplies were being processed by the Federal Government.

He described the stock-out as temporary and said the state was working with the relevant national programme and partners to replenish supplies.

The commissioner also said some recipients had reported mostly mild side effects, which were being monitored through the programme’s clinical and pharmacovigilance systems.

Kwara awaits additional doses

Kwara State has also exhausted its initial allocation.

The state AIDS Programme Coordinator, Muhammed Rasheed, said more than 800 doses received during the first phase were used up about two weeks before the report.

He said more than 1,000 additional doses were expected as demand for the drug continued to grow.

At Sobi Specialist Hospital in Ilorin, an official confirmed that the drug was temporarily unavailable to interested recipients.

NACA cites logistics and funding challenges

The National Agency for the Control of AIDS said stock-outs in individual states should not be interpreted as a nationwide shortage.

NACA’s Zonal Coordinator for the North-East, Dr John Tobias, said the pilot programme was designed to identify challenges involving healthcare capacity, storage, awareness, demand and distribution before a wider rollout.

According to Tobias, logistics difficulties can prevent medicines and other commodities available at the national level from reaching individual states.

He also linked some supply challenges to reductions in programme funding, noting that cuts to interventions funded largely through the Global Fund had affected several HIV-related programmes.

Demand rises in Cross River

In Cross River State, health workers said demand for Lenacapavir had increased, particularly among sex workers.

Saturday PUNCH reported that the initial allocation at the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital and General Hospital, Calabar, had run low since late August.

A health worker said uptake was initially slow because of limited awareness and stigma but increased after counselling and sensitisation efforts.

Another health worker said some people preferred the injection because it was more discreet and convenient than taking daily oral PrEP.

However, people waiting for new supplies were advised to continue using oral PrEP pending the arrival of additional Lenacapavir.

Lagos records low uptake

While several pilot states are experiencing shortages, Lagos officials said the state has sufficient doses but low uptake.

An official of the Lagos State Ministry of Health’s HIV Unit said the state was encouraging eligible residents to come forward for the injection.

The official said awareness efforts were being intensified through the ministry’s social media platforms.

Anambra receives fresh supply

Anambra State also exhausted its initial allocation but recently received another batch.

An official involved in administering the drug said the state had four centres providing the service and that eligible residents had shown strong interest.

The official said some beneficiaries preferred Key Population centres because the drug was available free of charge there, while some teaching hospitals charged fees for registration and related services.

The varying supply situation across the pilot states highlights the logistical and distribution challenges facing Nigeria’s initial rollout of Lenacapavir, even as demand for the six-monthly HIV prevention option grows.