Nigeria's Government Addresses Antimicrobial Resistance Concerns

The Federal Government of Nigeria has raised alarms regarding antimicrobial resistance (AMR), which was responsible for an estimated 64,500 deaths in Nigeria in 2019. Prof. Muhammad Pate, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, articulated these concerns during a joint ministerial press conference in Abuja.

He represented multiple ministries, including health and social welfare, agriculture and food security, livestock development, and environment, which are collaborating on Nigeria's One Health response to AMR. The fifth Global High-Level Ministerial Conference on AMR is set to take place in Abuja from December 6 to 8, 2026, marking the first such event on African soil.

The conference aims to unite ministers, scientists, and stakeholders to enhance the global response to drug-resistant infections. Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, emphasized the threat AMR poses to agricultural production and food security, advocating for responsible antimicrobial use and improved food safety systems.