FG Dismisses False Claim Of 86% HIV Prevalence in Port Harcourt.

The Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare has cautioned the public against a fake graphic circulating online that falsely claims HIV prevalence in Port Harcourt has “increased to 86%.”

In a statement posted on X on Sunday, the ministry clarified that the figures being shared are completely inaccurate and do not reflect any official health data.

It stated, “No state in Nigeria has an HIV prevalence rate anywhere close to the numbers being circulated. The Ministry did not issue any such alert, and the wording, figures, and format of the graphic are inconsistent with official communication.”

The ministry added that accurate HIV data is available through the National AIDS and STIs Control Programme, the National Agency for the Control of AIDS, and official publications of the ministry.

The fake graphic, designed to look like an official advisory, falsely claims that HIV rates in Port Harcourt jumped from 43% to 86%, with hundreds of thousands of men and women affected, and that 40% of cases involve individuals aged 16 to 25. It also ends with a misleading “public announcement” calling the city unsafe.

The ministry urged Nigerians to ignore the fabricated message, avoid spreading unverified health information, and rely solely on credible government sources for updates.

It reaffirmed its commitment to providing accurate, evidence-based health information to safeguard the wellbeing of citizens.