Nigeria Gears Up to Host 2026 AMR Global Conference: Livestock Minister Reaffirms Commitment to One Health Agenda
By Onwe Wisdom, Pan Afric Reporters Abuja | July 1, 2025
Nigeria took a major step forward in its preparations to host the 2026 High-Level Ministerial Conference on Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) as Honourable Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Mukhtar Maiha, delivered a powerful address at the inaugural meeting of the One Health Ministerial Advisory Committee held in Abuja on Tuesday.
Speaking at the Conference Room of the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Maiha emphasized that the gathering underscores Nigeria’s strong commitment to tackling AMR—one of the most pressing global health and development challenges of our time.
“I am honoured to stand alongside the Honourable Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, and the Honourable Minister of Environment, Balarabe Abbas Lawal,” said Maiha. “Together, we are advancing Nigeria’s One Health agenda with a unified front.”
Highlighting the critical role of the livestock sector, the Minister noted that antimicrobial resistance poses a grave threat to national food security, rural livelihoods, and public health.
“When antibiotics and other antimicrobials lose their effectiveness in treating animal diseases, the consequences are dire: reduced productivity, economic hardship for farmers, and risks to food safety,” he warned. “AMR is not a distant threat—it is a current and escalating danger that demands our full attention.”
Maiha stressed the importance of the One Health approach, calling for a coordinated and sustained multisectoral response to AMR. The newly established Ministerial Advisory Committee, he noted, exemplifies Nigeria’s commitment to this integrated framework by uniting key sectors such as health, agriculture, environment, and livestock.
The Minister also highlighted significant policy strides already made in the livestock sector, including the endorsement of several national documents such as the National Guidelines for the Use of Antimicrobial Drugs in Animals, the National Antimicrobial Stewardship Strategy, the National Antimicrobial Use Strategy, and the National AMR Surveillance Strategy.
Looking ahead to the global conference, Maiha described the 2026 event as a historic opportunity for Nigeria to demonstrate leadership and drive lasting change.
“Our aim must be to ensure that this conference is not just a well-executed event, but a catalyst for stronger systems and better coordination,” he said. “The Federal Ministry of Livestock Development, though newly established, is fully committed to ensuring the success of this global initiative.”
The meeting concluded with a joint reaffirmation of the collaborative spirit driving Nigeria’s preparations, as stakeholders from across sectors pledged to make the 2026 AMR Conference a milestone in global public health advocacy.
