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As resistance to certain infections to drugs and treatments continue to pose a public health threat in the country, the federal government and experts are urging Nigerians to avoid the misuse of antibiotics, adhere strictly to prescribed treatments, and seek professional medical advice before taking medications; BLESSING OKOLA reports.
According to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), Nigeria has 64,000 deaths associated with Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) annually. According to reports, it is a situation whereby bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites change over time and no longer respond to medicines like antibiotics, antivirals, or antifungals.
It is estimated that 10 million people will die annually by the year 2050, and the nation’s economies will be negatively affected if this challenge is not mitigated.
NCDC said the impact of AMR on the economy, health systems, and attainment is enormous. Up to $100 trillion of global gross domestic product could be lost due to AMR by 2050.
FG calls for greater community engagement, awareness
In a chat with journalists ahead of the launch of the National Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance 2.0. organised by NCDC in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, urged Nigerians to avoid the misuse of antibiotics and support efforts to combat antimicrobial resistance.
Pate said bacterial antimicrobial resistance was directly responsible for an estimated 1.27 million deaths worldwide in 2019, while approximately 64,500 deaths in Nigeria were attributable to AMR in the same year.
Citing estimates presented in connection with the global AMR challenge, Pate warned that more than 39 million deaths could be directly attributable to antimicrobial resistance between 2025 and 2050 without urgent action.
He said Nigeria had taken steps to address the challenge through its National Action Plan on AMR, stronger medicine regulation, improved laboratory capacity and the training of healthcare workers.
Pate also emphasised the importance of public education, urging Nigerians to avoid the misuse of antibiotics, consult qualified health professionals and follow prescribed treatment regimens.
He called for greater community engagement and storytelling in local languages to help Nigerians understand how antimicrobial resistance develops and how it can be prevented.
Preventions
The minister of health, Pate, further identified vaccination, hand washing, environmental hygiene and responsible antibiotic use in livestock production as important measures for preventing infections and reducing unnecessary antimicrobial consumption.
He said the conference would provide a platform for stakeholders to review progress, accelerate high-impact interventions and strengthen global AMR governance.
Pate said inappropriate antibiotic use, including taking inadequate doses and failing to follow prescribed treatment regimens, contributes to the growing challenge of AMR.
He stressed that not every cough or catarrh requires antibiotics, urging Nigerians to consult qualified health professionals before taking such medicines.
The minister also emphasised the importance of adhering to medical prescriptions, noting that responsible antibiotic use is essential to the collective effort to prevent antimicrobial resistance.
Action plan
He noted that Nigeria had already established a National Action Plan on AMR and that experts from academic and public health institutions had been working on the issue for several years.
He also highlighted efforts to strengthen laboratory capacity, train healthcare workers and improve the regulation of medicines to ensure that Nigerians have access to safe, effective and quality-assured antimicrobials.
Pate further stressed the need for responsible antibiotic use in animal production, noting that antimicrobial use in livestock could contribute to resistance with consequences for human health.
He said the government was pursuing a whole-of-government approach involving relevant ministries, regulatory agencies and development partners to tackle the challenge.
Environmental hygiene factor
Also speaking, the Minister of Environment, Malam Balarabe Abbas Lawal, emphasised the importance of environmental hygiene in preventing infections and reducing the demand for antibiotics.
Lawal described the environment as “the gateway to health,” noting that maintaining clean surroundings could reduce the risk of infections caused by bacteria and other disease-causing organisms.
He urged Nigerians to adopt proper environmental hygiene, stressing that this would help prevent diseases such as typhoid and cholera and reduce the need for medical treatment.
According to him, prioritising disease prevention would reduce the number of infections requiring treatment and, consequently, the demand for antibiotics.
The minister therefore called for environmental hygiene to be integrated into public awareness campaigns and other efforts to combat antimicrobial resistance, stressing that keeping the environment clean was a crucial first step towards preventing infections.
Responsible use of antibiotics
In the same vein, the Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Mukhtar Maiha, called for responsible antibiotic use in poultry and other livestock production, warning that the inappropriate use of the drugs could pose risks to human health.
Maiha said the government was prioritising farmer education on the dangers of antibiotic misuse, while promoting preventive measures such as proper hygiene, vaccination and biosecurity to reduce infections among animals.
He noted that although antibiotics may appear to improve productivity and help animals gain weight, their irresponsible use could ultimately harm farmers and the wider community.
The minister urged farmers to administer antibiotics only when necessary and under appropriate veterinary guidance, stressing the importance of following prescribed treatment regimens, and observing the required withdrawal periods before animals or their products are released for human consumption.
He said many Nigerians engage in small-scale livestock production, including backyard poultry and goat rearing, making it essential to educate farmers on responsible antibiotic use.
Maiha added that the ministry was working through its extension agents to raise awareness among farmers and promote practices that would reduce the risk of antimicrobial resistance.
AMR major threat to agriculture, food security – Sabi
In his Welcome remarks, the Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Dr. Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, the Baraden Borgu, at the One Health Minister’s briefing on the Fifth Global High-Level Ministerial Conference on Antimicrobial Resistance, held at the Ministry, Abuja, calls for Coordinated One Health Response to Antimicrobial Resistance.
Abdullahi said antimicrobial resistance was not only a human health challenge but also a major threat to agriculture, food security, food safety and livelihoods.
He explained that while antimicrobials were essential for protecting human, animal and plant health, their inappropriate or excessive use could accelerate resistance, undermine disease control, compromise food safety and disrupt trade.
According to him, addressing AMR requires coordinated action across human health, animal health, agriculture and the environment, as resistance can emerge and spread across people, animals and food systems.
He said the collaboration among the ministries of Health and Social Welfare, Agriculture and Food Security, Livestock Development, and Environment demonstrated the federal government’s commitment to the One Health approach.
The minister identified responsible antimicrobial and agrochemical use, stronger food safety systems, expanded agricultural extension services and farmer education on good agricultural practices and biosecurity as key priorities for the agricultural sector.
He stressed the need to provide farmers with appropriate guidance and sustainable alternatives to protect crops, livestock, consumers and the environment.
According to him, the December conference would provide Nigeria with an opportunity to demonstrate African leadership by showcasing practical interventions, strengthening partnerships and advancing commitments capable of delivering measurable results.
He added that efforts to combat AMR must go beyond declarations to produce concrete actions at farm, community, institutional and national levels.
The minister also called for sustained media engagement to raise public awareness and maintain attention on the dangers of antimicrobial resistance.
International commitments on AMR
The meeting also highlighted plans to develop the proposed Abuja Compact on Antimicrobial Resistance through consultations with member states and other stakeholders, with the aim of translating global commitments into practical action.
International commitments on AMR include the 2024 United Nations General Assembly Political Declaration on Antimicrobial Resistance, the Muscat Ministerial Manifesto and the Jeddah Commitments.
The One Health approach recognises the interconnection between human, animal and environmental health and promotes coordinated action to address threats that cut across these sectors.
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