By Stella Odueme
The Federal Government has called for stronger inter-sectoral cooperation to tackle antimicrobial resistance (AMR), warning that drug-resistant infections pose a growing threat to public health, food security, agricultural productivity and environmental sustainability.
The government made the call during a joint ministerial briefing on Monday ahead of the fifth Global High-Level Ministerial Conference on Antimicrobial Resistance, scheduled to hold in Abuja from December 6 to 8, 2026.
The conference, which will be the first to be hosted on African soil, is expected to bring together government officials, scientists, development partners and other stakeholders to develop practical strategies for addressing antimicrobial resistance.
Themed “One Health: Advancing Global AMR Commitments to Local Action,” the conference will focus on coordinated interventions across human health, livestock production, agriculture, food systems and environmental management.
Speaking at the briefing, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, described AMR as a major public health concern, revealing that it was estimated to have contributed to approximately 64,500 deaths in Nigeria in 2019.
He explained that antimicrobial resistance occurs when microorganisms develop the ability to withstand medicines designed to eliminate them, making infections more difficult to treat and increasing the likelihood of complications and fatalities.
Pate said the Federal Government was strengthening antimicrobial stewardship in federal hospitals, clinical governance, pharmaceutical regulation and laboratory diagnostic services.
He added that vaccination, infection prevention and the responsible use of antibiotics remained essential to preventing the spread of resistant infections.
The minister, however, acknowledged existing weaknesses in national surveillance and called for stronger monitoring systems to improve the country's capacity to track and respond to AMR.
The Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Dr Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, warned that the inappropriate use of antimicrobials could threaten animal health, crop production, food safety, agricultural trade and farmers' incomes.
He identified public awareness among farmers, responsible use of agricultural chemicals and medicines, stronger biosecurity measures and improved extension services as priorities for addressing the challenge.
Abdullahi expressed confidence that the forthcoming conference would provide a platform for Nigeria to advance practical solutions and partnerships that protect agricultural production while safeguarding human health and the environment.
Similarly, the Ministry of Livestock Development stressed the importance of reducing unnecessary antibiotic use in animal production through vaccination, improved nutrition, proper hygiene, disease prevention and veterinary supervision.
A representative of the ministry also emphasised the need for farmers to comply with prescribed withdrawal periods before treated animals and their products are released into the food supply chain.
On environmental concerns, the Minister of Environment, Balarabe Abbas Lawal, warned that resistant organisms could spread through contaminated water, soil and improperly managed waste.
He said environmental protection must therefore remain central to efforts to prevent and control antimicrobial resistance.
According to Lawal, the four ministries had agreed to establish a joint coordination mechanism to sustain cooperation beyond the December conference, while strengthening waste management practices and encouraging broader stakeholder participation.
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 assess progress, accelerate priority interventions and deepen international cooperation in tackling AMR.
Salako cited a 2022 study published in The Lancet, which estimated that bacterial antimicrobial resistance directly caused 1.27 million deaths globally in 2019.
He further warned that more than 39 million deaths could be directly attributable to antimicrobial resistance worldwide between 2025 and 2050 if effective interventions were not implemented.
The minister said the conference would also advance the proposed Abuja Compact on Antimicrobial Resistance, which is being developed through consultations with member states and other stakeholders.
The compact is expected to build on existing global commitments, including the United Nations General Assembly's political declaration on AMR, by promoting measurable actions to reduce the threat.
The Federal Government maintained that the conference would provide an important opportunity to strengthen international partnerships and advance a coordinated One Health approach, with sustained implementation across the health, agriculture, livestock and environment sectors.