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 be held in Africa.
The conference, themed “One Health — Advancing Global AMR Commitments through Local Action,” will bring together ministers and stakeholders in health, agriculture and the environment from more than 100 countries to assess progress and develop practical solutions to combat antimicrobial resistance.
AMR, which occurs when bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites no longer respond effectively to medicines, is associated with an estimated 1.3 million deaths annually worldwide.
Speaking at a briefing in Abuja, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Pate, described AMR as a “silent pandemic” that requires coordinated action across human health, animal health, agriculture and the environment.
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Professor Pate warned that when antibiotics and other antimicrobial medicines become ineffective, infections become more difficult to treat, while medical procedures such as surgery and childbirth carry increased risks.
He said Nigeria was adopting a One Health approach that brings together stakeholders across the health, agriculture, livestock and environment sectors to address the challenge.
The minister also cautioned Nigerians against the indiscriminate use of antibiotics and self-medication, urging patients to follow professional medical advice and complete their prescribed treatment as directed.
Also speaking, the Minister of Environment, Malam Balarabe Lawal, said antimicrobial resistance could spread across people, animals, farms, food systems, water, soil and waste, making a coordinated, cross-sectoral response essential.
Lawal said the four ministries responsible for health and social welfare, agriculture and food security, livestock development, and the environment were committed to strengthening collaboration through a joint One Health coordination mechanism that would continue beyond the conference.
He said other priorities included promoting responsible antimicrobial use in hospitals and farms, improving waste and water management, and ensuring an inclusive conference that accommodates governments, scientists, civil society, young people, the private sector and local communities.
According to him, Nigeria would also publicly report its progress and support the implementation of the Abuja Compact through the Troika mechanism.
The environment minister emphasised that a clean environment, improved sanitation and personal and community hygiene were critical to preventing infections and reducing the need for antimicrobial medicines.
Similarly, 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 strictly observe the recommended withdrawal periods before taking animal products to market.
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 antimicrobial resistance posed a significant threat not only to human health but also to agriculture and food security.
He noted that although antimicrobials were used to protect human, animal and plant health, their inappropriate or excessive use could accelerate resistance, undermine disease control, reduce agricultural productivity, compromise food safety, disrupt trade and threaten farmers’ livelihoods.
Abdullahi said the conference theme highlighted the urgent need to translate global commitments into practical and measurable actions that protect people, agricultural production, food systems and the environment.
