A coalition of Nigerian civil society organizations (CSOs) has publicly denounced the United Nations’ plan to dismantle the UNAIDS agency, describing the proposal as ill-timed and potentially harmful to global HIV/AIDS programming.
In a statement, the groups referenced remarks by UN Secretary-General António Guterres, who said he plans to “sunset UNAIDS by the end of 2026,” integrating its capacity and expertise into other UN development entities beginning in 2027.
The Nigerian CSOs warned that such a restructuring could undermine decades of institutional memory, coordination mechanisms, and accountability for HIV/AIDS efforts at national and global levels. They called on the UN to reconsider and engage civil society before making irreversible decisions.
They also emphasized the critical role UNAIDS has played in aligning international, regional, and local responses to HIV/AIDS, advocating that the proposed plan risks destabilizing existing systems and partnerships.
Sunday Buna Ibrahim is a seasoned journalist with Daily Frontier (dailyfrontier.com.ng), where he reports on security, conflicts, and humanitarian issues across Nigeria’s Middle Belt, particularly Plateau and Benue States. He also serves as a News Producer at Vision FM Radio in Abuja. Prior to joining Daily Frontier, he worked with Radio Nigeria, Fombina FM Yola in Adamawa State between 2019 and 2020.
