Akwa Ibom, Rivers HIV laws exist but structures inactive as donor funding declines
Akwa Ibom and Rivers states enacted HIV/AIDS Control Agency Laws to sustain HIV response as international donor funding declines, establishing State Councils on HIV/AIDS (chaired by governors Umo Eno and Siminalayi Fubara) and Local Action Committees across all LGAs. However, a Premium Times investigation found no evidence these structures functioned as intended between January 2023 and June 2026, with Akwa Ibom providing no records of quarterly council meetings and Local Committees inactive per NEPWHAN reports.
Without functional governance structures, Nigeria's HIV response risks collapsing as donor support ends, potentially disrupting treatment access for people living with HIV and worsening stigma. In Akwa Ibom, an anti-stigma bill passed in September 2024 still awaits Governor Umo Eno's assent, while Rivers State has yet to enact similar legislation, leaving legal protections incomplete despite budget provisions for the process.
The investigation reveals a critical gap between existing laws and implementation, with officials citing political challenges or deflecting responsibility. For people living with HIV, this uncertainty affects whether medicines reach those afraid to visit clinics, whether newly diagnosed adolescents find support, and whether progress against HIV can survive funding shifts. As donor-dependent community services disappear, will state governments activate their own laws to sustain HIV services and protect vulnerable populations from discrimination?