By 1993-1994 ten major urban sites reported HIV prevalence among pregnant women. By 1988-1990, 1 percent of pregnant women tested in Lagos were HIV positive. Among sites in major urban areas, median HIV prevalence reached 4 percent by 1993-1994 and stayed at that level in 1999 and 2001. Prevalence in 2001 ranged from 1 percent in Lagos (Ikeja) to 14 percent in Abuja (Nyanya).

By 1991-1992, 20 sites from ten states outside of the major urban areas reported HIV prevalence from sentinel surveillance of antenatal women. The number of sites increased to 69 sites in 2001 and then to 125 in 2003. Median HIV prevalence among ANC women tested at these sites increased from less than 1 percent in 1991-1992 to 4.6 percent in 2003. Prevalence among 125 sites in 2003 ranged from no evidence of infection in 10 sites to over 10 percent in 12 sites with 17 percent HIV prevalence in antenatal women tested in Badagry, Lagos.

HIV prevalence among 15-24 year old women was 5.7 in 1999, 5.9 in 2001 and 5.4 in 2003.

Testing of sex workers in Lagos began in 1988-1989. Two percent of sex workers tested at that time were HIV positive and increased to 15 percent in 1993. Median HIV prevalence among 7 sites in 1994 and 3 sites in 1995 was 29 percent and 33 percent, respectively. In 1996, 31 percent of sex workers tested in Lagos were HIV positive.

The latest surveillance report from the National AIDS and Sexually transmitted diseases Control Program (NASCP) shows that 20% of the current AIDS cases are civil servants, 18% are housewives and businessmen, 11% are farmers, and 8% are students. Thus the government sector will be strongly affected after these employees begin to die.

Source: Special Report, THIS DAY, The Sunday Newspaper, March 28, 1999, p. 31.
By 2010, Nigeria will have 10 to 15 million HIV cases. Nigeria will be among the hardest hit countries, with the social and economic impact similar to that in the hardest hit countries in southern and central Africa,

HIV Prevalence Estimates
According to the country estimates in 1999, there were 2.6 million adult Nigerians infected with HIV and this figure is projected to increase to 4.9 million by the year 2003 [2]. These estimates were close to the UNAIDS estimates which indicated that 2,700,000 persons, of whom 1,400,000 were women and 120,000 children, were living with HIV/AIDS [3]. The estimated adult prevalence of 5.06% in Nigeria without absolute figures somewhat masks the magnitude of the HIV epidemic in the country.

AIDS Case and Impact
The first AIDS cases were reported in 1986. At the end of 1999, a cumulative total of 26,276 AIDS cases had been officially reported. Information is not available on age and sex distribution of these cases.
UNAIDS estimates show that in 1999, 250,000 Nigerians died of AIDS and there were 1,4000,000 AIDS orphans cumulatively.