Nigeria is bringing four ministries together to combat antimicrobial resistance (AMR) ahead of the Fifth Global High-Level Ministerial Conference on AMR, scheduled for December 6–8, 2026, in Abuja.
The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, announced the initiative at a joint ministerial briefing in Abuja.
He stressed the need for collaboration across human health, agriculture, livestock and the environment to curb drug-resistant infections.
The conference, themed “One Health: Advancing Global AMR Commitment Through Local Action,” will be the first edition of the global ministerial gathering hosted in Africa.
Pate described AMR as “a hidden pandemic”, calling for accurate diagnosis, responsible antimicrobial use and stronger infection prevention measures.
AMR occurs when microorganisms develop resistance to medicines used to treat infections, making illnesses harder to manage and increasing the risk of complications and death.
A 2024 analysis published in The Lancet estimated that bacterial AMR directly caused 1.14 million deaths worldwide in 2021 and was associated with 4.71 million deaths.
Under its reference scenario, the study projected 39.1 million cumulative deaths attributable to AMR between 2025 and 2050.
One Health Approach
The initiative involves the ministries responsible for health and social welfare, agriculture and food security, livestock development, and the environment, reflecting the links between human, animal and environmental health.
Pate said inappropriate antimicrobial use in agriculture and animal production, alongside environmental contamination, could contribute to the spread of resistant organisms.
The Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Aliyu Abdullahi, represented by the ministry’s Director of Plant Health and Pest Control Services, Iwendi Grace Odunola, described AMR as a threat to agricultural productivity, food safety and farmers’ livelihoods.
He called for stronger food safety systems, improved biosecurity, farmer education, expanded agricultural extension services and sustainable alternatives to reduce inappropriate antimicrobial use.
Environment Minister, Balarabe Lawal warned that resistant organisms could spread through water, soil, food and poorly managed waste. He called for stronger inter-ministerial cooperation and improved environmental management.
Strengthening Diagnosis and Surveillance
Pate said the Health Ministry had operated an antimicrobial stewardship programme in federal hospitals for two and a half years to promote appropriate prescribing and responsible medicine use.
Other priorities include improved laboratory diagnosis, stronger infection prevention and control, and regulatory action against counterfeit medicines and inappropriate antimicrobial sales.
He acknowledged gaps in Nigeria’s AMR surveillance systems, stressing the need for stronger laboratory capacity, reliable data, increased domestic health financing and local pharmaceutical production.
December Conference to Drive Action
The December conference is expected to bring together government representatives, scientists, development partners, civil society and private-sector stakeholders to advance global cooperation against AMR.
Discussions will focus on translating commitments into practical action across human health, animal health, agriculture and the environment, with emphasis on sustained funding, effective regulation, reliable surveillance and responsible antimicrobial use.
Coordinated action across the four sectors will be essential to protecting public health, safeguarding food production and preserving the effectiveness of essential medicines.
