In 2025, 12,060 Nigerians tested positive for Hepatitis B and C across 12 states.Health authorities screened 210,947 individuals for HBV and HCV, the Federal Ministry of Health reports.Among these, 129,602 were screened for Hepatitis B, while 81,345 underwent HCV testing.
The report revealed 9,066 people tested reactive to the Hepatitis B virus in 2025.Approximately 906 of these patients qualify for treatment, yet only 179 have started therapy.
The World Health Organization defines hepatitis as liver inflammation caused by infectious and non-infectious agents.Hepatitis can lead to severe health complications, including liver failure and death.
Globally, viral hepatitis ranks as the second leading infectious cause of death annually.State-level data shows Adamawa recorded 298 HBV positive cases out of 2,633 screenings.
Delta reported 14 HBV positives from 1,049 screened, while Jigawa had 24 positives from 380.Kano registered 2,231 HBV reactive cases from 28,461 screened, initiating 17 treatments.
Lagos recorded 2,042 HBV positives from 41,982 tested individuals and started 31 treatments.Nasarawa had 3,348 HBV positives from 38,035 screenings, with 104 newly treated.Niger recorded 668 HBV cases from 3,486 screenings, while Zamfara reported 310 positives.
HCV cases were also recorded, including 2,097 in Nasarawa and 460 in Lagos.These figures highlight Nigeria’s urgent need for expanded hepatitis screening and treatment programs.
