Nigeria will host the 5th Global High-Level Ministerial Conference on Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) from December 6 to 8, 2026, in Abuja, marking the first time the global gathering will take place in Africa.
The conference, themed “One Health — Advancing Global AMR Commitments through Local Action,” is expected to bring together ministers and stakeholders in health, agriculture and environmental protection from more than 100 countries to assess progress and develop practical strategies to combat antimicrobial resistance.
Speaking at a briefing in Abuja, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, described AMR as a “silent pandemic” that requires coordinated action across human health, animal health, agriculture and the environment.
Pate warned that when antibiotics and other antimicrobial medicines lose their effectiveness, common infections become more difficult to treat, while medical procedures, including surgery and childbirth, become riskier.
He said Nigeria was adopting a One Health approach involving the ministries responsible for health, agriculture, livestock development and the environment to address the growing threat.
The minister also cautioned Nigerians against indiscriminate antibiotic use and self-medication, urging patients to follow medical advice and complete prescribed treatment.
Also speaking, the Minister of Environment, Malam Balarabe Lawal, said antimicrobial resistance could spread between humans and animals and through food, water, soil and waste, making collaboration among sectors essential.
Lawal said the four ministries were committed to establishing a joint One Health coordination mechanism that would continue beyond the conference, promote responsible antimicrobial use in hospitals and farms, and improve waste and water management.
He added that Nigeria would seek an inclusive conference involving governments, scientists, civil society organisations, young people, the private sector and communities, alongside public reporting on progress and follow-up on the proposed Abuja Compact.
The environment minister further stressed that clean surroundings, proper sanitation and personal and community hygiene were essential to preventing infections and reducing the need for antibiotics.
In his remarks, the Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Maiha, called for increased farmer education, warning against placing commercial interests above public health.
He urged poultry and livestock farmers to use antibiotics only under appropriate veterinary prescription and observe stipulated withdrawal periods before marketing animal products.
Similarly, the Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Aliyu Abdullahi, represented by the Director of Plant Health and Pest Control Services, Mrs Iwendi Odunola, said AMR posed a significant threat to agriculture and food security, beyond its effects on human health.
He explained that although antimicrobials help protect human, animal and plant health, their excessive or inappropriate use accelerates resistance, weakens disease control, reduces agricultural productivity and threatens food safety, trade and farmers’ livelihoods.
Abdullahi said the ministry’s priorities included promoting responsible antimicrobial and agrochemical use, strengthening food safety systems, expanding agricultural extension services and educating farmers on biosecurity, good agricultural practices and Integrated Pest Management.
He added that sustainable alternatives were needed to protect crops, livestock, consumers and the environment while reducing reliance on harmful or inappropriate chemical use.
The conference, to be co-led by the four ministries and hosted by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, will feature a Non-State Actors Day, ministerial sessions on implementation, high-impact interventions and governance, as well as a closed-door ministerial roundtable.
The meeting is expected to culminate in the adoption of the Abuja Compact, setting out commitments to strengthen the global response to antimicrobial resistance. Nigeria will also hand over the conference presidency to Brazil, host of the sixth meeting scheduled for 2028.
 from December 6 to 8, 2026, in Abuja, marking the first time the global gathering will take place in Africa.){kind=link}