This information note has been compiled by Harm Reduction International (HRI) in collaboration with Drug Harm Reduction Advocacy Network Nigeria (DHRAN), to support Global Fund Grant Cycle 7 processes.

• People who inject drugs size estimate: 326,000.
• 24% of people who inject drugs are adolescents and young people between 15-24.
• HIV prevalence: 10.9% nationally, while as high as 23.4% in Benue.
• Around 9% of new HIV infections per year are among people who inject drugs and their partners.
• Self-reported prevalence of hepatitis B: 7.8% amongst people who inject drugs and 6.6% amongst high-risk drug users.
• Self-reported prevalence of hepatitis C: 3.3% amongst people who inject drugs and 2.3% amongst high-risk drug users

• Harm reduction services are included in the national HIV and AIDS strategic framework 2021-2025, including opioid agonist therapy (OAT), needle and syringe programme (NSP) and outreach.
• NSP: 312 syringes per person per year.
• OAT: at least one OAT programme is providing methadone.
• ART coverage among people who inject drugs living with HIV: 25%

• Harm reduction continues to depend heavily on international donors in Nigeria. PEPFAR and the Global Fund contribution account for 67% and 15% respectively to the national HIV response.
• Out of USD 2.1 billion reported donor (Global Fund and PEPFAR) spending on HIV between 2015-2018, only USD 44 million was spent on key population programmes – which represents 2% of the total HIV expenditure.
• The approved cost for the Global Fund supported harm reduction intervention was USD 1.96 million under the National Aligned HIV/AIDS Initiative (NAHI) for the period covering 2021-2023.
• There is no account of domestic harm reduction funding since there has not been any commitment in this regard. The implementation of the National Drug Control Master Plan (NDCMP 2021-2025), which includes harm reduction as a strategic pillar, has not yet been operationalised.

• Scale up harm reduction and HIV prevention services, including OAT and NSP.
• Address existing gaps related to stock out and legal aid services.
• Integration of viral hepatitis vaccination, testing and treatment services into HIV programme.
• Integration of sexual reproductive health and rights services into HIV services.
• Develop capacity of community-led collectives and organisations on HIV interventions for their communities.
• Advocacy to reduce the legal barriers and increase funding for harm reduction.