The Federal Government has pledged to strengthen efforts to combat antimicrobial resistance (AMR) through a multisectoral approach as Nigeria prepares to host the fifth Global High-Level Ministerial Conference on AMR in Abuja from December 6 to 8, 2026.
The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, disclosed this at a press briefing in Abuja on Monday, describing AMR as a “silent pandemic” that requires coordinated action beyond the healthcare sector.
Pate said the government was adopting the One Health approach, which recognises the connection between human health, animal health, agriculture and the environment, to address the spread of antimicrobial resistance.
He warned that the loss of effectiveness of antibiotics and other antimicrobial medicines could make routine infections more dangerous, increase the risks associated with surgery and childbirth, and raise healthcare costs for families.
The minister said Nigeria’s hosting of the conference would provide an opportunity to translate existing global commitments, including the 2024 United Nations Political Declaration on AMR, the Muscat Manifesto and the Jeddah Commitments, into practical measures.
He added that the meeting would culminate in the adoption of the Abuja Compact on AMR, which is expected to guide further action against the threat.
Pate urged Nigerians to avoid self-medication and the indiscriminate use of antibiotics, advising patients to follow medical prescriptions and complete their prescribed treatments.
Also speaking, the Minister of Environment, Malam Balarabe Abbas Lawal, said antimicrobial resistance spread across human and animal populations and through farms, food, water, soil and waste, making cooperation among government agencies essential.
Lawal said the ministries responsible for health, agriculture, livestock development and the environment had committed to strengthening joint coordination, promoting responsible antimicrobial use and improving the management of waste and water.
He added that improved sanitation, environmental cleanliness and personal and community hygiene were necessary to prevent infections and reduce the demand for antibiotics.
Similarly, the Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Mukhtar Maiha, represented by the Chief Veterinary Officer, Dr Abdukareem Durosunlorun, called for increased farmer education and responsible use of antibiotics in animal production.
He urged poultry and livestock farmers to administer antibiotics only on professional prescription and observe the required withdrawal periods before taking animals or their products to market.
In his welcome remarks, the Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, represented by the Director of Plant Health and Pest Control Services, Mrs Iwendi Grace Odunola, said AMR threatened agricultural productivity, food safety, trade and farmers’ livelihoods.
He said the ministry would promote responsible use of antimicrobials and agrochemicals, strengthen food safety systems, expand agricultural extension services and educate farmers on biosecurity, good agricultural practices and integrated pest management.
The conference, to be co-led by the four ministries and hosted by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, will feature sessions on implementation, high-impact interventions and governance, alongside a Non-State Actors Day.
The meeting will conclude with the adoption of the Abuja Compact on AMR and the handover of the conference presidency to Brazil, which is scheduled to host the sixth edition in 2028.
Matthew Abi
