The Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare has dismissed as false a viral graphic circulating online which claims that HIV prevalence in Port Harcourt has “risen to 86%.”
In a statement issued via its official X handle on Sunday, the ministry described the figures as fabricated and inconsistent with verified health statistics.
“No state in Nigeria has an HIV prevalence rate anywhere near the figures quoted. The Ministry has not issued any such advisory, and the wording, numbers, and format circulating are not consistent with official communication,” the statement clarified.
The ministry further noted that authentic data on HIV prevalence is available through the National AIDS and STIs Control Programme (NASCP), the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA), and periodic publications of the ministry.
The misleading graphic, which mimics the ministry’s branding, falsely claimed that HIV rates in Port Harcourt had jumped from 43% to 86%, affecting over 180,000 females and 456,000 males, with 40% of cases among people aged 16 to 25. It concluded with a purported “public announcement” declaring the city unsafe and urging caution.
Authorities urged Nigerians to disregard the post, avoid sharing unverified health information, and rely only on official channels for updates. The ministry reiterated its commitment to delivering reliable, evidence-based health information to safeguard public health.
