The Federal Government has called for coordinated action across the health, agriculture, livestock and environmental sectors to tackle antimicrobial resistance (AMR), warning that the growing threat endangers lives, food safety and the country’s health systems.
The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Pate, described AMR as a “hidden pandemic” while announcing the fifth Global High-Level Ministerial Conference on AMR, scheduled to hold in Abuja from December 6 to 8, 2026.
Newspadi gathered that the conference, the first of its kind to take place on African soil, will focus on translating global commitments into practical measures under the theme, “One Health: Advancing Global AMR Commitment through Local Action”.
Pate explained that AMR occurs when bacteria and other microorganisms develop resistance to medicines designed to treat infections, making illnesses harder to manage and increasing the risk of complications and death.
He warned that patients could suffer prolonged illnesses when healthcare providers administer antimicrobial drugs without appropriate diagnostic tests to determine which medicines would work.
“Folks go to hospitals, get treated for pneumonias, typhoid or whatever infectious disease.
“In some places, without proper knowledge of the sensitivity to the antimicrobial being used, individuals may suffer much longer than they should and some may have complications or lose their lives,” he said.
The minister said the government was working to expand access to quality antimicrobial medicines while preventing their misuse, particularly in communities where many Nigerians still lack essential medicines and appropriate healthcare.
He acknowledged gaps in the country’s AMR surveillance system but said the government was strengthening laboratory capacity, training healthcare workers and promoting infection prevention to improve detection and control.
On the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Pate said the government had introduced public health measures to protect Nigerians and strengthen preparedness ahead of the international conference.
He disclosed that the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention and Port Health Services were working with the World Health Organisation and other partners to monitor developments and improve surveillance at Nigeria’s borders.
Speaking at the event, the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr Iziaq Salako, said bacterial antimicrobial resistance directly caused an estimated 1.27 million deaths globally in 2019, while about 64,500 deaths in Nigeria were attributable to it.
Citing the 2022 Global Research on Antimicrobial Resistance study, Salako warned that AMR could directly cause more than 39 million deaths worldwide between 2025 and 2050 without effective interventions.
He said the Abuja conference would review existing efforts, accelerate interventions and strengthen global coordination on AMR. Participants are also expected to adopt the Abuja Compact on Antimicrobial Resistance as a framework for coordinated action.
Salako urged Nigerians to stop using antibiotics indiscriminately and follow medical prescriptions, warning against taking the drugs without professional assessment or confirmation that they were necessary.
“It is not every cough that needs antibiotics. It is not every catarrh that needs antibiotics. Please consult a doctor,” he said.
He identified vaccination, regular handwashing, infection prevention, improved laboratory services and responsible prescribing as essential measures to reduce infections and limit the need for antimicrobial medicines.
The Minister of Environment, Alhaji Balarabe Lawal, warned that antimicrobial resistance could spread through water, soil and other environmental pathways, making proper sanitation and environmental hygiene crucial to prevention.
He urged Nigerians to prioritise disease prevention rather than rely on medicines to treat infections that improved sanitation could help prevent.
“Let’s start from prevention first. Let’s tackle the number of diseases that force you to go and take these antibiotics,” he said, citing typhoid and cholera as examples of illnesses that better sanitation and hygiene could help prevent.
Lawal said the ministries responsible for health, environment, agriculture and livestock development would work through a joint One Health coordination mechanism.
He added that the ministries would publicly report their progress in implementing the Abuja Compact to strengthen accountability and sustain efforts against AMR.
Similarly, the Minister of Livestock Development, Alhaji Idi Maiha, said the widespread use of antibiotics in poultry and livestock production required stronger regulation, farmer education and responsible drug administration.
Represented by the Director of Contagious Bovine Pleuropneumonia, Dr Abdulkareem Durosinlorun, Maiha said his ministry was educating farmers on the responsible use of antibiotics while promoting vaccination, hygiene and biosecurity to reduce dependence on the drugs.
He stressed that farmers must obtain prescriptions before administering antibiotics and observe the required withdrawal periods before selling treated animals or birds for consumption.
“So, the essence is to educate farmers on responsible use of antibiotics. If they have to use antibiotics, you have to use it based on prescription.
“They must follow the routine and they must also make sure that the withdrawal period is observed before the birds or animals are released into the market for use,” he said.
The Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Dr Aliyu Abdullahi, also pledged to promote the responsible use of antimicrobials and agrochemicals to protect agricultural productivity and food safety.
Represented by the Director of Plant Health and Pest Control Services, Mrs Iwendi Odunola, Abdullahi said the ministry would strengthen food safety systems, expand agricultural extension services and educate farmers on good agricultural practices, biosecurity and integrated pest management.
He said Nigeria had an opportunity to demonstrate African leadership by turning global commitments into practical action across farms, communities and institutions.
Abdullahi added that stronger collaboration and coordinated implementation across sectors would help Nigeria tackle antimicrobial resistance while protecting public health, livestock production and food security.
