Ahead of Global AMR Conference in Abuja, FG Pushes Unified Action to Stem Drug-Resistant Infections
The Federal Government has unveiled a unified, one-government action involving four ministries to stem drug-resistant infections, as Nigeria prepares to host the 5th Global High-Level Ministerial Conference on Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) in Abuja — the first time the global gathering will be held on African soil.
The conference, themed “One Health: Advancing Global AMR Commitments to Local Action,” is scheduled for December 6-8, 2026 at the Transcorp Hilton, Abuja, and will bring together ministers and health stakeholders from over 100 countries to review progress and develop practical solutions to combat AMR, a condition where bacteria and other microbes resist medicines, making infections harder to treat.
At a joint One Health ministerial press conference held in Abuja Monday 12th October, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Pate, stated that AMR is a “silent pandemic” that kills quietly, noting that when antibiotics stop working, routine infections become dangerous and the cost of care rises for every family.
According to him, infections that would ordinarily respond to treatment were becoming increasingly resistant to medicines, exposing patients to prolonged illnesses, complications and possible death.
While stressing that inappropriate use of antibiotics was worsening the problem, the Minister urged Nigerians to consult qualified health professionals when sick and also adhere to recommended treatment schedules.
A representative of the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development also identified inappropriate antibiotic use in poultry and other livestock production as a major driver, warning farmers against prioritising profit over human health.
He said the Ministry is educating farmers on responsible antibiotic use, vaccination, proper hygiene, biosecurity and appropriate animal feed to reduce reliance on antibiotics, stressing that antibiotics should be used only on prescription and that farmers must strictly observe withdrawal periods before treated animals and their products enter the market.
The Minister of Environment, Malam Balarabe Lawal, warned that resistant organisms spread across people, animals, farms, food systems and the environment through water, soil and waste.
“Resistance does not respect boundaries. It cuts across sectors. It moves from people to animals, from farms to food, and through water, soil, and waste systems,” Lawal said.
The Minister said the four co-leading ministries — Health, Agriculture, Livestock and Environment — would act as one government through a joint One Health mechanism, drive responsible antimicrobial use in hospitals, farms and waste management, host an inclusive conference, and be accountable by reporting publicly on Nigeria’s progress and the Abuja Compact.
Lawal added that a clean environment, improved sanitation, personal and community hygiene are critical to preventing infections that drive the need for antibiotics.
In his welcome address, the Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Dr. Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, said AMR is not only a human health challenge but a significant threat to agriculture and food security, undermining disease control, reducing productivity, compromising food safety and threatening farmers’ livelihoods.
From the agricultural perspective, he said the Ministry’s priorities include promoting responsible use of antimicrobials and agrochemicals, strengthening food safety systems, expanding agricultural extension services and educating farmers on good agricultural practices, biosecurity and Integrated Pest Management.
In a joint ministerial statement delivered by the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr Iziaq Salako, the government said the conference would focus on reviewing progress, accelerating high-impact interventions and strengthening global AMR governance.
Salako cited the 2022 Lancet Global Research on Antimicrobial Resistance study, which estimated that bacterial AMR was directly responsible for 1.27 million deaths worldwide in 2019, warning that more than 39 million deaths could be directly attributable to AMR globally between 2025 and 2050 without effective intervention.
He said the meeting would also address the need to balance responsible antimicrobial use with access to essential medicines, particularly in countries where many people still lack access to needed antibiotics.
The meeting, to be co-led by the four ministries and hosted by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, will feature Non-State Actors Day, ministerial sessions on delivery, high-impact interventions and governance, and a closed-door ministerial roundtable culminating in the adoption of the Abuja Compact and handover of the Presidency to Brazil as host of the 6th meeting in 2028.
