An HIV prevention expert has cautioned that improper use of condoms, including the use of oil-based lubricants, can increase the likelihood of condoms breaking and undermine protection against HIV and other sexually transmitted infections.

The Senior Manager for Prevention Programmes at the AIDS Healthcare Foundation, Taofeek Adeleye, issued the warning in Lagos on Thursday during a two-day training for journalists and social media influencers on HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP).

The National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA) organised the training in collaboration with the World Health Organisation (WHO). It aims to enhance journalists’ understanding of PrEP and other HIV prevention strategies and to improve public access to accurate information about HIV.

Adeleye stated that those relying on condoms for protection should be vigilant about correct usage, including selecting the right condom size and employing suitable lubricants.

He advised against the use of palm oil, vegetable oil, and other oil-based substances with condoms, recommending water-based lubricants instead.

“You can’t use palm oil, honey oil, balsamic, or vegetable oil. You can use water-based lubricants, which are advisable,” he said.

His caution aligns with international guidance on condom usage.

The United States Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (US-CDC) advises people using latex condoms to use water-based or silicone-based lubricants rather than oil-based products. The agency emphasises that oil-based lubricants can weaken condoms and lead to breakage.

Similarly, WHO says lubricants can reduce the likelihood of condoms breaking, slipping or falling off when used correctly.

Adeleye also underlined the importance of using condoms of the appropriate size.

He recommended that individuals take precautions before engaging in sexual activity and remain conscious of potential risks.

“I always advise men that when you are going to engage in sexual activity, you should also look around. When you are coming in here, you look at the room before you enter. You don’t just go into a place without knowing what is there,” he explained.

Condoms still crucial with PrEP

This discussion coincides with Nigeria’s expanding focus on preventing new HIV infections through multiple measures, including condoms, HIV testing, and PrEP.

PrEP is an HIV prevention method for individuals without HIV but at risk. It involves medication to reduce the chance of acquiring the virus.

However, PrEP does not guard against other sexually transmitted infections or unintended pregnancies. WHO recommends that condoms and lubricants continue to be part of HIV prevention services along with PrEP.

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Nigeria is also seeking to strengthen its HIV prevention response. In March, NACA launched the National HIV Prevention Plan 2026–2030, shifting greater attention towards preventing new infections rather than relying primarily on treatment after infection.

New infections

Despite progress in expanding treatment and prevention services, Nigeria continues to see thousands of new HIV infections, according to NACA’s Director-General, Temitope Ilori.

Ilori stated that about 45,000 new infections were recorded last year, with concerns about infections among young people.

“We have new infections coming up. There were about 45,000 new infections as of last year. We’re still gathering information regarding this year,” she said.

She highlighted that these figures reinforce the need to strengthen prevention efforts, noting that while approximately 1.3 per cent of the general population live with HIV, over 98 per cent are HIV-negative.

She asserted that Nigeria’s response should focus on preventing new infections while ensuring that those living with HIV have access to treatment.

Ilori identified condoms and PrEP among the key HIV prevention options, emphasising that individuals should adopt prevention methods suitable for their circumstances and level of risk.

The PDP candidate for Ogun State House of Assembly, Abeokuta South Constituency 2, Adeoye Adeniran, has maintained that while residents of the state do not oppose the aspiration of the Yewa-Awori people to produce the next governor, they would resist any attempt to impose an outsider.

Adeniran noted that the agitation for power rotation to Ogun West is legitimate, but warned against the emergence of a “non-indigene with identity crisis or a proxy sent from Lagos”.

He spoke in reaction to the Olota’s recent reaffirmation of support for Ogun West to produce the next governor during a visit by the PDP’s governorship candidate, Ladi Adebutu.

DAILY POST reports that the Olota of Ota, Oba Adeyemi Obalanlege, alongside other Awori traditional rulers, reaffirmed their support for Senator Solomon Adeola as the preferred candidate for the 2027 Ogun State governorship election.

The monarch stated that equity, fairness and justice require that Ogun West be allowed to produce the next governor, adding that the Awori people had resolved to support a candidate whose agenda aligns with the senatorial district’s interests.

Reacting, the PDP chieftain asserted that the issue should not be reduced to an ethnic contest, arguing that what should matter to the people is the identity, credibility, competence and genuine connection of whoever seeks to govern the state.

He said, “Truly, as a Yewa indigene, I believe it is right for Ogun West to produce the next governor of Ogun State. But we cannot, because of that legitimate aspiration, allow a non-indigene or a proxy from Lagos to lead us. If we do, we will all regret it.”

Adeoye stressed that leadership must be built on truth and transparency, declaring that anyone who could not be trusted to tell the truth about “little things” should not be entrusted with the responsibility of governing the state.

He harped on the importance of allowing citizens to freely determine who governs them rather than presenting the position of individual traditional rulers as a collective endorsement.

Adeoye also pointed to expressions of support for Adebutu among Egba communities in Sango, Ijoko and Ota, saying such developments demonstrated that political choices in Ogun could not be reduced to the position of one traditional institution or one geographical axis.

The controversy also reportedly prompted the Palace of the Olofin Adimula Oodua of Ado-Odo, Oba Olusola Idris Osolo Adebowale Otenibotemole II, to distance itself from the position attributed to the Palace of the Olota of Ota in connection with an ‘Awori Obas Forum’.

In its clarification, the palace said the visit to the Olota should not be interpreted as representing all Awori traditional rulers in Ogun State and could not be taken as the position of all Awori traditional rulers in the state.

Reacting to the development, Adeoye argued that the ongoing debate should ultimately be settled by the electorates.

He said Ogun people deserved a governor who was genuinely connected to the state, understood its challenges and could be held accountable by its citizens.

He called on residents across the three senatorial districts to look beyond ethnic, sectional considerations and examine the antecedents, identity, credibility of candidates, before making their choice at the polls.