A Senior Manager for Prevention Programmes at the AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), Taofeek Adeleye, has warned Nigerians against using palm oil, vegetable oil and other oil-based substances as lubricants during sexual activity, particularly when condoms are being used.

Adeleye gave the warning in Lagos on Thursday during a national training for media personnel on HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP), organised by the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA) and the World Health Organisation (WHO).

He advised people to use condoms of the appropriate size and take necessary precautions before engaging in sexual activity to reduce the risk of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs).

On lubricants, Adeleye specifically cautioned against using palm oil, vegetable oil and other oil-based products 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.

He also addressed the use of saliva when a lubricant is unavailable, advising individuals against using saliva from another person.

Adeleye further urged men to be conscious of their environment and avoid unnecessary risks during sexual activity.

The training comes as Nigeria continues to scale up combination HIV prevention interventions, including PrEP, condom use, HIV testing and treatment.

PrEP is an HIV prevention method in which HIV-negative people who may be exposed to the virus take antiretroviral medicines to reduce their risk of acquiring HIV. When taken as prescribed, it significantly lowers the risk of HIV infection but does not protect against other sexually transmitted infections.

Condoms therefore remain an important component of combination HIV prevention.

Nigeria continues to face a significant HIV burden, making expanded access to prevention, testing, treatment and other support services essential.

The Federal Government, through NACA and its partners, has continued to promote a combination approach to HIV prevention while working to improve access to preventive and treatment services.

The media training was designed to strengthen journalists’ understanding of PrEP and other HIV prevention interventions, enabling them to provide accurate information to the public and help reduce misinformation and stigma surrounding HIV.