FG raises alarm over drug-resistant infections, cites 64,500 deaths

The Federal Government has raised the alarm over the growing threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), which was estimated to have contributed to 64,500 deaths in Nigeria in 2019, as it prepares to host the fifth Global High-Level Ministerial Conference on AMR in Abuja from December 6 to 8, 2026.

The conference, which will be the first to be held on African soil, is expected to bring together ministers, scientists, development partners and other stakeholders to strengthen the global response to drug-resistant infections and translate existing commitments into practical action.

The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, raised the concern at a joint One Health ministerial press conference in Abuja on Monday, ahead of the conference.

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Pate described AMR as a “hidden pandemic” that makes infections that would ordinarily respond to treatment increasingly difficult to manage, exposing patients to prolonged illness, complications and possible death.

“AMR is a hidden pandemic. It’s silent,” he said, explaining that patients treated for pneumonia, typhoid and other infectious diseases could suffer serious consequences when the medicines prescribed were ineffective against resistant organisms.

The minister said the Federal Government was adopting a whole-of-government approach because antimicrobial resistance was not limited to human health but also involved livestock, agriculture, food systems and the environment.

According to him, inappropriate use of antibiotics in livestock production could contribute to the development of resistant organisms that eventually affect humans.

Pate said the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare had operated an antimicrobial stewardship programme in federal hospitals over the past two and a half years to promote appropriate prescribing and responsible use of medicines.

He also cited the establishment of a clinical governance task force earlier in the year to strengthen hospital practices and reduce healthcare-associated infections.

Other measures, he said, included stronger regulatory oversight by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), improved pharmaceutical distribution, expanded laboratory diagnostic capacity and training for health workers.

The coordinating minister acknowledged gaps in Nigeria’s AMR surveillance system, noting that these affected the accuracy of national estimates.

“There are still gaps in surveillance, so the accuracy of Nigerian numbers may not be the same as what you may hear, let’s say, in the Nordic countries or in the Western countries,” he said.

He added that the government was working to strengthen surveillance, infection prevention and control, antimicrobial stewardship and access to quality medicines.

Pate identified vaccination as another important preventive measure, explaining that immunisation against infections such as pneumococcal and Haemophilus influenzae pneumonia could reduce the need for antibiotics.

He urged Nigerians to avoid indiscriminate use of antibiotics, stressing that not every cough or catarrh required such medication.

The minister advised patients to consult qualified health professionals and follow prescribed treatment schedules, including the recommended duration of treatment.

Earlier, the Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Dr Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, said antimicrobial resistance posed a significant threat not only to human health but also to agriculture, food security, food safety and livelihoods.

He explained that the inappropriate or excessive use of antimicrobials in agriculture and animal production could undermine disease control, compromise food safety and disrupt trade.

Abdullahi said the agricultural sector’s priorities included promoting responsible antimicrobial and agrochemical use, strengthening food safety systems, expanding agricultural extension services and educating farmers on good agricultural practices and biosecurity.

He stressed the need to provide farmers with appropriate guidance and sustainable alternatives to protect crops, livestock, consumers and the environment.

“As we look toward the December conference, Nigeria has a unique opportunity to demonstrate African leadership by showcasing practical local interventions, strengthening partnerships, and advancing commitments that deliver tangible results,” he said.

The minister called for concrete measures at farm, community, institutional and national levels to ensure that global commitments translate into practical outcomes.

In a joint ministerial statement delivered by the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr Iziaq Adekunle Salako, the government said the conference would focus on reviewing progress, accelerating high-impact interventions and strengthening global AMR governance.

Salako cited findings from 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.

He warned that more than 39 million deaths could be directly attributable to AMR globally between 2025 and 2050 without effective intervention.

He said the conference would seek to move the global response from commitments to implementation through the proposed Abuja Compact on Antimicrobial Resistance, which was being developed through consultations with member states and other stakeholders.

The conference’s theme is “One Health: Advancing Global AMR Commitments to Local Action.”

The Minister of Environment, Balarabe Abbas Lawal, said resistant organisms could spread across human populations, 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,” he said.

Lawal said the four ministries responsible for Nigeria’s One Health response had committed to establishing a joint coordination mechanism that would continue beyond the conference.

He said the government would also promote responsible antimicrobial use across sectors, improve the management of waste and water, and ensure that the conference accommodated governments, scientists, civil society organisations, the media, the private sector and communities.

The minister added that Nigeria would publicly report its progress and support the implementation of the Abuja Compact through a tracking mechanism.

He also urged Nigerians to improve environmental hygiene, describing it as a critical component of disease prevention.

“Once we can sort out our environment well, we can clean our environment and we can reduce the chances of any infection,” Lawal said.

A representative of the Ministry of Livestock Development said the government was working to educate farmers on the dangers of indiscriminate antibiotic use and the need for responsible practices in animal production.

He identified vaccination, proper hygiene, biosecurity and appropriate animal feed as measures that could reduce reliance on antibiotics in livestock production.

The representative stressed that when antibiotics were necessary, they should be used under appropriate guidance, with farmers observing prescribed withdrawal periods before animals and animal products entered the market.

He said the ministry was using agricultural extension agents to promote responsible practices among commercial livestock operators and households rearing poultry, goats and other animals.

Pate said the December conference 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.

He called for public awareness campaigns that would explain the effects of AMR through relatable stories and local languages, adding that the conference should reflect the realities of Nigerian and African communities.

The coordinating minister urged journalists to sustain public engagement on the issue and help Nigerians understand their role in preventing drug resistance.

He said the Federal Government was working with state governments, private-sector stakeholders and development partners to strengthen the country’s response, expressing optimism that the conference would advance practical solutions to the growing threat.