Over the past two decades, West Africa has experienced recurrent incursions of Goose/Guangdong-lineage highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) A(H5N1), with Nigeria as a hotspot for repeated introductions and sustained circulation. Since 2021, European-origin clade 2.3.4.4b H5Nx genotypes, particularly EA-2020-C, have predominated in regional poultry. Here, we report the emergence and rapid spread in Nigeria, and West Africa, of a new clade 2.3.4.4b H5N1 genotype, designated EA-2024-DV, marking a major shift in the circulating virus population. These findings underscore the region´s ongoing vulnerability to novel introductions and highlight the need for sustained surveillance across migratory bird routes and poultry production networks.