NIGERIA TO HOST FIRST GLOBAL MINISTERIAL CONFERENCE ON AMR IN AFRICA, CHAMPIONS MULTISECTORAL APPROACH TO PREVENTION
By Pan Afric Reporters
Nigeria will host the fifth Global High-Level Ministerial Conference on Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) from December 6 to 8, 2026, in Abuja, becoming the first African country to host the global gathering aimed at strengthening international cooperation against drug-resistant infections.
The Federal Ministry of Livestock Development announced this in a press release dated October 12, 2026, signed by Henrietta Okokon, Director of Information and Public Relations, following a joint ministerial briefing in Abuja on preparations for the conference.
The conference, themed “One Health: Advancing Global AMR Commitment Through Local Action,” will take place at the Transcorp Hilton, Abuja, bringing together ministers, policymakers, scientists, development partners and stakeholders from the human health, agriculture, livestock and environmental sectors across more than 100 countries.
Speaking at the briefing, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, described antimicrobial resistance as a “silent pandemic” requiring urgent and coordinated action across multiple sectors.
AMR occurs when bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites develop resistance to medicines used to treat infections. According to the release, it is directly responsible for an estimated 1.27 million deaths annually worldwide and is associated with nearly five million deaths.
Pate warned that the challenge could not be tackled by the health sector alone, noting that the misuse and overuse of antimicrobial medicines in human healthcare, livestock production and agriculture contribute to the emergence and spread of resistance.
He explained that drug resistance could turn previously treatable infections into life-threatening conditions, make routine medical procedures, surgery and childbirth riskier, and increase healthcare costs for individuals and families.
The minister reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to translating international agreements, including the 2024 United Nations Political Declaration on AMR, the Muscat Manifesto and the Jeddah Commitments, into practical national interventions.
He said the Abuja conference was expected to culminate in the adoption of the Abuja Compact on Antimicrobial Resistance, a framework intended to translate global commitments into measurable actions with clear accountability mechanisms.
Ministers Call for Coordinated Action
The Minister of Environment, Malam Balarabe Abbas Lawal, stressed that AMR transcends national borders and sectoral boundaries, spreading between humans and animals and through food systems, water, soil and waste.
He maintained that no single ministry or institution could effectively address the threat in isolation, highlighting the need for sustained interministerial cooperation and collective responsibility.
Lawal outlined four priority commitments for the Ministries of Health and Social Welfare, Agriculture and Food Security, Livestock Development, and Environment: strengthening whole-of-government coordination; translating global commitments into local action; promoting inclusive stakeholder engagement; and ensuring accountability through public reporting and follow-up.
He also emphasised environmental cleanliness, improved sanitation and personal and community hygiene as essential measures for preventing infections and reducing the need for antimicrobial treatment.
Similarly, the Minister of State for Health, Dr Iziaq Adekunle Salako, described responsible antibiotic use as a shared responsibility that begins with individual choices.
He cautioned Nigerians against indiscriminately using antibiotics for ailments such as coughs and urged patients to follow medical prescriptions rather than discontinue treatment simply because their symptoms had improved.
Livestock Sector Warns Against Antibiotic Misuse
Speaking on behalf of the Minister of Livestock Development, Alhaji Idi Mukhtar Maiha, the Director of Quality Assurance and Certification, Dr Abdulkareem Durosunlorun, called for stronger farmer education and responsible antimicrobial use throughout the livestock value chain.
Durosunlorun warned that placing commercial interests above public health through inappropriate antibiotic use in livestock and poultry production could accelerate antimicrobial resistance and threaten the safety of animal-source foods.
He urged farmers to administer antibiotics only under appropriate veterinary prescription and supervision, while observing the prescribed withdrawal periods before animals or their products are presented for human consumption.
He also highlighted the importance of farm biosecurity, disease prevention, veterinary oversight and sustained public awareness campaigns in reducing unnecessary dependence on antimicrobial medicines.
The ministry reiterated that integrating animal health into Nigeria’s national AMR response was essential to protecting public health, ensuring food safety and sustaining livestock productivity.
Agriculture, Food Security Also at Stake
In his welcome remarks, the Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, represented by the Director of Plant Health and Pest Control Services, Mrs Iwendi Grace Odunola, described AMR as both a public health challenge and a growing threat to agriculture and food security.
He noted that although antimicrobials are important in protecting human, animal and plant health, their excessive or inappropriate use accelerates resistance, weakens disease control, reduces agricultural productivity, compromises food safety, disrupts trade and threatens farmers’ livelihoods.
Abdullahi identified responsible antimicrobial and agrochemical use, stronger food safety systems, expanded agricultural extension services, improved biosecurity and Integrated Pest Management as priorities for addressing the challenge.
He added that sustainable alternatives and improved production practices would be crucial to protecting crops, livestock, consumers and the environment while strengthening agricultural resilience.
Abuja Conference to Produce Global Commitments
The conference will be co-led by the four participating ministries and hosted by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Its programme is expected to include a Non-State Actors Day, ministerial sessions on implementation, high-impact interventions and governance, as well as a closed-door ministerial roundtable.
Representatives of the World Health Organization, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and the World Organisation for Animal Health attended the briefing alongside Professor Aliko Ahmed, Senior Adviser and Special Regional Representative of the Director-General for the West Africa Region of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention.
The international partners reaffirmed their support for Nigeria’s hosting of the conference and pledged active collaboration towards its successful delivery.
The meeting is expected to conclude with the adoption of the Abuja Compact on AMR and the transfer of the conference presidency to Brazil, which will host the sixth edition in 2028.
Nigeria’s hosting of the gathering presents an opportunity to mobilise political commitment, strengthen international cooperation and advance practical measures against antimicrobial resistance through a coordinated One Health approach that connects human, animal and environmental health.
