The Federal Government of Nigeria is taking a multi-sectoral approach to combat antimicrobial resistance (AMR), a growing threat to human health, agriculture, and food security. The Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Aliyu Abdullahi, emphasized that AMR is not only a human health challenge but also a significant threat to agriculture and food security. The government is uniting the health, agriculture, livestock, and environment sectors to address the issue.
AMR occurs when microorganisms no longer respond to medicines designed to treat infections, and it is linked to an estimated 1.3 million deaths annually worldwide. The fifth Global High-Level Ministerial Conference on Antimicrobial Resistance, scheduled for December 6 to 8, 2026, in Abuja, will bring together ministers and stakeholders from over 100 countries to review progress and develop solutions to the growing threat. Nigeria is set to host the first global ministerial conference on AMR in Africa.
The Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security noted that inappropriate or excessive antimicrobial use accelerated resistance, undermined disease control, reduced agricultural productivity, compromised food safety, disrupted trade, and threatened farmers’ livelihoods. The government is prioritizing responsible antimicrobial use, stronger food safety systems, agricultural extension services, biosecurity, and Integrated Pest Management. Coordinated action is essential to safeguarding food systems and strengthening national resilience.
The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Muhammad Pate, described AMR as a “silent pandemic” that kills quietly. He emphasized that when antibiotics and other antimicrobials stopped working, routine infections became dangerous, surgery and childbirth carried greater risks, and healthcare costs increased. The conference is expected to adopt the Abuja Compact on AMR, which aims to promote a coordinated response to AMR.
The Minister of Environment, Malam Balarabe Abbas Lawal, highlighted that AMR crosses sectoral boundaries through people, animals, farms, food, water, soil, and waste. He emphasized that sanitation and personal and community hygiene were vital to preventing infections. The four ministries will establish a joint One Health coordination mechanism beyond the conference to promote responsible antimicrobial use and safe waste and water management.
The Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Maiha, urged farmers to prioritize human health, use antibiotics only on prescription, and observe withdrawal periods before marketing livestock products. The government will report Nigeria’s progress publicly and support follow-up actions under the Abuja Compact through the Troika mechanism. This aims to ensure accountability and effective implementation of the agreed-upon solutions.
The government’s efforts to combat AMR include promoting responsible antimicrobial use in hospitals, farms, and animal production, alongside safe waste and water management. The Abuja Compact on AMR is expected to be a major outcome of the conference, providing a framework for a coordinated response to AMR. Nigerians are urged to avoid self-medication and follow their doctors’ prescriptions to mitigate the risks associated with AMR.
Key points
- The Nigerian government is uniting the health, agriculture, livestock, and environment sectors to combat antimicrobial resistance ahead of the global ministerial conference.
- Antimicrobial resistance is linked to an estimated 1.3 million deaths annually worldwide and threatens agriculture, food security, and human health.
- The Abuja Compact on AMR aims to promote a coordinated response to AMR and will be a major outcome of the conference.
