AMR: FG Warns Of Drug-Resistant Infections As Nigeria Records 64,500 Deaths

The Federal Government has raised concerns over the growing threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), which was estimated to have contributed to 64,500 deaths in Nigeria in 2019.

The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate disclosed this at a joint One Health ministerial press conference ahead of the fifth Global High-Level Ministerial Conference on AMR in Abuja on Monday.

The Conference, the first to be hosted on African soil is scheduled for December 6 to 8, 2026. It is expected to strengthen global efforts to combat drug resistance and translate existing commitments into practical action.

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Pate described AMR as a “hidden pandemic” that renders medicines increasingly ineffective against infections, exposing patients to prolonged illness, complications and possible death.

He explained that patients receiving treatment for pneumonia, typhoid and other infectious diseases could suffer severe consequences when the prescribed medicines failed to work against resistant organisms.

The minister said the Federal Government was adopting a whole-of-government approach to tackle the challenge, stressing that AMR extended beyond human health to livestock, agriculture, food systems and the environment.

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

Pate disclosed that 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 responsible prescribing and the appropriate 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 interventions, he said, included enhanced regulatory oversight by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), improved pharmaceutical distribution, expanded laboratory diagnostic capacity and training for healthcare workers.

However, the minister acknowledged shortcomings in Nigeria’s AMR surveillance system, noting that the gaps affected the accuracy of national estimates and the country’s ability to monitor the spread of drug-resistant infections.

He said the government was working to improve surveillance, infection prevention and control, antimicrobial stewardship and access to quality medicines.

Pate identified vaccination as another critical measure for reducing antibiotic use, explaining that immunisation against infections such as pneumococcal and Haemophilus influenzae pneumonia could prevent illnesses that might otherwise require antibiotic treatment.

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

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

Earlier, the Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Dr Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, warned that AMR threatened not only human health but also agriculture, food security, food safety, livelihoods and international trade.

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

Abdullahi said the agricultural sector was prioritising responsible antimicrobial and agrochemical use, stronger food safety systems, expanded agricultural extension services and farmer education on good agricultural practices and biosecurity.

He stressed the importance of providing 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.

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 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 interventions.

According to him, the conference would seek to move the global response beyond declarations and commitments towards implementation through the proposed Abuja Compact on Antimicrobial Resistance, which is being developed in consultation with member states and other stakeholders.

The conference is themed “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 disclosed that the four ministries responsible for Nigeria’s One Health response had committed to establishing a joint coordination mechanism that would remain operational beyond the conference.

He said the government would promote responsible antimicrobial use across sectors, improve waste and water management, and ensure that the conference involved 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 an essential component of disease prevention.

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

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

He added that antibiotics, when necessary, should be administered under appropriate guidance, with farmers observing prescribed withdrawal periods before animals and their products entered the market.

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

Pate further noted that the December conference would 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 communicate the dangers of AMR through relatable stories and local languages, stressing that discussions at the conference must 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 Nigeria’s response, expressing hope that the conference would produce practical solutions to the growing threat of antimicrobial resistance.