Taraba State AIDS Control Agency (TACA) has disclosed that 398 deaths from HIV/AIDS were recorded in the second and third quarters of 2025.
According to the agency, 50,310 people living with HIV in the state are currently receiving anti-retroviral therapy (ART) across various health facilities. 2,674 of the total are aged between 0 and 19 years, while 47,636 are adults aged 20 and above.
The state government attributed the rising death rate partly to the cessation of foreign aid by former United States President Donald Trump, which affected Nigeria and other beneficiary countries under the US intervention programme.
Speaking at the 2025 World AIDS Day event in Jalingo on Tuesday, Governor Agbu Kefas called for a collective effort to end HIV/AIDS as a public health threat. Represented by the Commissioner of Health, Dr. Buma Gbansheya Bordiya, the governor reiterated his administration’s commitment to ensuring that no one is denied access to care and treatment.
Dr. Bako Ali Istifanus, Director-General of TACA, said the state still has significant work to do in reducing infection rates.
“To truly overcome distribution, we must sustain investments in prevention, treatment, and community engagement. Despite the disruption following the stop-work order by the US government, about 50,310 people living with HIV are on ART as of October 2024 to September 2025,” he stated.
Igbadu Elizabeth, State Coordinator of the Association of Women Living with HIV/AIDS in Nigeria, expressed concern over the rising death toll. “In Taraba State, we have over 50,000 persons living with HIV/AIDS, with Jalingo alone accounting for over 16,000 cases. After the withdrawal of foreign aid, we faced severe challenges, resulting in the loss of lives, including children,” she said.
Igbadu added that the last quarter, spanning July to September 2025, recorded 215 deaths, while the current quarter, covering October to late November, has already seen over 83 deaths. She noted that in previous years, the state recorded about 100 deaths annually, describing the current trend as “quite alarming.”
