NOA Reports 1.2% of Nigeria’s Population Living with HIV/AID
The National Orientation Agency (NOA) has revealed that 1.2% of Nigeria’s total population is currently living with HIV/AIDS.
NOA’s Director General, Malam Lanre Issa-Onilu, shared this statistic in a speech at the launch of a nationwide sensitization campaign on World AIDS Day, security awareness, discouraging the get-rich-quick syndrome, World Human Rights Day, and the Tax Reform Bill in Ibadan on Tuesday.
Represented by Dr. Ayoola Olufemi, Director of Health and Social Care, Malam Issa-Onilu highlighted concerns about the rising spread of the virus and emphasized the need for intensified public health campaigns to curb its transmission.
The Director General commended President Bola Tinubu’s administration for its efforts in combating the spread of HIV/AIDS and noted that NOA is contributing through nationwide free and accessible counseling services.
He stated:
“The Agency is partnering with local and international organizations to combat stigma and discrimination against carriers. However, it should be noted that the government alone cannot end the fight against HIV/AIDS. Citizens must embrace responsible health behaviors, utilize available services, and support those living with the condition.”
In addition, Malam Issa-Onilu addressed the significance of the Tax Reform Bill, emphasizing its role in Nigeria’s socio-economic growth. He lauded the Tinubu administration’s initiative to address taxation, highlighting that while tax reforms aim to remove multiple taxations and reduce the financial strain on low-income earners, challenges remain.
He noted the benefits of the Tax Reform, which include eradicating double taxation, supporting low-income earners, ensuring transparency, and improving the visibility of tax contributions toward national development.
“The reforms are designed to ease the burden on hardworking Nigerians while ensuring fairness. By supporting these reforms, we can create a tax system that works for all and supports projects that will drive national development,” he concluded.