Nigerian ministers call for stronger collaboration across health, agriculture, livestock and environment sectors to tackle antimicrobial resistance.
Nigeria recorded an estimated 64,500 deaths attributable to antimicrobial resistance AMR in 2019, as the Federal Government acknowledged gaps in national surveillance and called for coordinated action to curb drug-resistant infections.
The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, disclosed the figure during a joint ministerial briefing in Abuja on Monday, ahead of the Fifth Global High-Level Ministerial Conference on Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR).
Professor Pate said resistance to antimicrobial medicines was undermining the effectiveness of treatments, making infections harder to manage and increasing the risks associated with routine medical procedures.
He said the government was strengthening antimicrobial stewardship in federal hospitals, laboratory diagnostic services, clinical governance and pharmaceutical regulation. He also identified vaccination, infection prevention and responsible antibiotic use as important measures to reduce the spread of resistant infections.
The Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Dr Aliyu Abdullahi, warned that inappropriate antimicrobial use threatened agricultural productivity, food safety, trade and farmers’ livelihoods.
Dr Abdullahi said the ministry would promote responsible use of antimicrobial medicines and agricultural chemicals, strengthen food safety systems and expand extension services to educate farmers on good agricultural practices, biosecurity and integrated pest management.
The Ministry of Livestock Development Idi Maiha, also called for more responsible antibiotic use in poultry and other livestock production, identifying vaccination, improved hygiene, biosecurity, appropriate feeding and veterinary supervision as measures to reduce reliance on antibiotics.
Represented by the Chief Veterinary Officer, Dr Abdukareem Durosunlorun stressed that farmers should use antibiotics only when prescribed by qualified veterinary professionals and observe the required withdrawal periods before treated animals and their products enter the food supply chain.
READ ALSO:
- Nigeria’s AMR Surveillance Gaps Raise Health Concerns
- IHVN Urges Media to Lead Fight Against Antibiotic Resistance
- Poor Pay Threatens Nigeria’s Medical Training, NAMDA Warns
Minister Environment Balarabe Lawal warned that resistant microorganisms could spread through contaminated water, soil and poorly managed waste, making environmental protection essential to controlling antimicrobial resistance.
Lawal said the four ministries would establish a joint coordination mechanism to sustain collaboration beyond the conference. He also highlighted waste management, sanitation and hygiene as important parts of infection prevention.
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 review progress, accelerate priority interventions and strengthen international cooperation against antimicrobial resistance.
Salako cited a global study published in The Lancet in 2022, which estimated that bacterial antimicrobial resistance directly caused 1.27 million deaths worldwide in 2019. He warned that more than 39 million deaths could be directly attributable to bacterial resistance globally between 2025 and 2050 without effective intervention.
He also highlighted the need to balance responsible antimicrobial use with access to essential medicines, particularly in countries where many people still lack access to the antibiotics they need.
The conference, scheduled for December 6 to 8 in Abuja, will be the first global ministerial meeting on antimicrobial resistance to take place in Africa. It is expected to bring together ministers, scientists, development partners and other stakeholders to strengthen coordinated action.
Under the theme, “One Health: Advancing Global AMR Commitments to Local Action,” the meeting will seek to translate international commitments into practical interventions across human health, animal production, agriculture and the environment.
The proposed Abuja Compact on Antimicrobial Resistance is expected to provide a framework for measurable action and accountability among participating countries.
Antimicrobial resistance occurs when bacteria and other microorganisms develop the ability to survive medicines that previously killed them or stopped their growth. The One Health approach recognises the links between human, animal and environmental health in tackling the threat.
About The Author
