Nigeria Set to Host Global AMR Conference in December as Drug Resistance Threatens Millions

Nigeria Set to Host Global AMR Conference in December as Drug Resistance Threatens Millions

By Our Health Correspondent

Abuja (Core Reporters) Nigeria will host the 5th Global High-Level Ministerial Conference on Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) from December 6 to 8, 2026, in Abuja, as the Federal Government seeks stronger international cooperation to combat the growing threat of drug-resistant infections.

The conference is expected to bring together global health leaders, policymakers and stakeholders to accelerate action against antimicrobial resistance, which occurs when bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites develop the ability to resist medicines designed to treat infections.

The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Pate, described AMR as a “silent pandemic,” and warned that infections once easily treated are becoming increasingly difficult to manage, resulting in prolonged illnesses and avoidable deaths.

Pate spoke during a joint ministerial press briefing in Abuja, where government officials highlighted the urgent need for coordinated action across the health, agriculture, livestock and environmental sectors.

He disclosed that antimicrobial resistance is directly responsible for an estimated 1.27 million deaths annually worldwide and is associated with nearly five million deaths, underscoring the scale of the global health emergency.

The minister urged Nigerians to avoid self-medication, use antibiotics only when prescribed by qualified health professionals and adhere strictly to prescribed treatment schedules.

He said the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare had operated an antimicrobial stewardship programme in federal hospitals for two and a half years, alongside a clinical governance task force established to improve medical practices and reduce healthcare-associated infections.

According to him, Nigeria is also pursuing stronger regulatory oversight of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Controlm (NAFDAC), expanded diagnostic capacity, improved healthcare worker training and better pharmaceutical distribution systems to address the challenges associated with open drug markets.

Pate acknowledged existing gaps in surveillance but stressed that effective control of AMR would require sustained investment, improved infection prevention and a whole-of-government approach.

He identified vaccination, handwashing, hygiene and other preventive measures as essential to reducing infections and limiting the demand for antimicrobial medicines.

The Minister of Environment, Balarabe Lawal, said AMR was a cross-border and multisectoral challenge that spreads through human and animal populations, food systems, water, soil and waste.

He called for stronger interministerial collaboration, translating international commitments into local interventions, inclusive stakeholder engagement and accountability through public reporting.

Lawal also cautioned against the indiscriminate use of antibiotics, stressing the importance of following medical prescriptions and strengthening environmental safeguards to limit the spread of resistant microorganisms.

Similarly, the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Salako, said the Abuja conference would review progress, accelerate interventions and strengthen governance frameworks for tackling antimicrobial resistance.

Salako cited findings from a 2022 Lancet study estimating that bacterial AMR caused 1.27 million deaths globally in 2019, including approximately 64,500 in Nigeria.

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

Representing the Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Aliyu Abdullahi, the ministry’s Director of Plant Health and Pest Control Services, Iwendi Odunola, said AMR posed a significant threat not only to public health but also to agricultural productivity, food security, trade and livelihoods.

She explained that although antimicrobials remain important for protecting human, animal and plant health, their misuse accelerates resistance, weakens disease control and compromises food safety.

Odunola identified responsible antimicrobial use, stronger food safety systems, expanded agricultural extension services, improved biosecurity and integrated pest management as critical measures for addressing the problem.

The Minister of Livestock Development, Alhaji Idi Maiha, represented by the Chief Veterinary Officer of the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development, Dr. Abdulkareem Durosunlorun, also called for improved farmer education and responsible antimicrobial use throughout the livestock value chain.

He warned that the inappropriate use of antibiotics in pursuit of commercial interests could accelerate resistance, endanger public health and undermine food safety.

Maiha urged farmers to administer antibiotics only under veterinary prescription, observe recommended withdrawal periods before animal products enter the food chain, and adopt effective biosecurity and disease-prevention measures.

The December conference, to be co-led by the four participating ministries and hosted by President Bola Tinubu, is expected to culminate in the adoption of the Abuja Compact, a framework designed to translate international commitments on AMR into measurable actions with clear accountability mechanisms.

The programme will include a Non-State Actors Day, ministerial sessions on implementation and governance, and a closed-door roundtable.

Representatives of the World Health Organisation, the Food and Agriculture Organisation, the World Organisation for Animal Health and the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention attended the briefing and pledged support for Nigeria’s hosting of the conference.

The meeting is expected to strengthen global cooperation and advance practical measures to contain antimicrobial resistance, improve public health outcomes and protect food systems against the growing threat of drug-resistant infections.