FG Exposes Viral “86% HIV Rate” Claim In Port Harcourt As Pure Fiction

According to Ireporter Online, the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare has dismissed a widely circulated online graphic alleging that HIV prevalence in Port Harcourt has surged to 86 percent. The ministry, in a statement issued on Sunday via its official X platform, clarified that the claim is entirely fabricated and not supported by any recognised health data.

The statement stressed that no Nigerian state has an HIV prevalence rate remotely close to the figures being circulated. It further noted that the format, wording, and statistics displayed in the viral graphic do not align with the ministry’s authorised communication standards.

The ministry advised Nigerians to rely on verified information from trusted channels such as the National AIDS and STIs Control Programme, the National Agency for the Control of AIDS, and official publications issued by the Ministry of Health. It emphasised that the fraudulent graphic, which mimics government branding, falsely claims that HIV cases in Port Harcourt have jumped from 43 percent to 86 percent, alongside exaggerated figures of affected males and females and misleading age-based statistics.

The graphic also concludes with an unfounded public warning declaring Port Harcourt unsafe, urging residents to take protective measures—claims the ministry has categorically rejected.

Authorities urged the public to disregard the false message, avoid circulating unverified health alerts, and seek accurate information only from credible government platforms. The ministry reaffirmed its commitment to providing Nigerians with reliable, data-driven updates aimed at safeguarding public health.