The Federal Government has intensified efforts to curb the misuse and overuse of antibiotics and other antimicrobial medicines, warning that irresponsible use is accelerating drug resistance and making common infections increasingly difficult to treat.
The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, said the inappropriate use of antimicrobials in humans and animals was contributing to a growing public health threat that could leave patients vulnerable to infections that no longer respond to available medicines.
Pate spoke in Abuja during a joint ministerial briefing ahead of the fifth Global High-Level Ministerial Conference on Antimicrobial Resistance, scheduled to hold in Nigeria from December 6 to 8, 2026.
Antimicrobial resistance occurs when bacteria and other disease-causing organisms develop the ability to survive medicines designed to eliminate them, often making infections harder and more expensive to treat.
The minister described the threat as a hidden pandemic, noting that patients treated for conditions such as pneumonia and typhoid could suffer prolonged illnesses, develop complications or die when prescribed medicines fail to work against resistant infections.
According to figures presented at the briefing, antimicrobial resistance was linked to an estimated 64,500 deaths in Nigeria in 2019.
Pate said tackling the problem required stricter oversight of antimicrobial use, improved diagnosis and greater public awareness of the dangers of inappropriate medication.
He explained that Nigeria was adopting a multisectoral approach because the misuse of antibiotics in livestock production, alongside practices in agriculture and environmental management, could contribute to the development and spread of resistance.
The minister noted that the livestock sector uses substantial quantities of antibiotics, making responsible administration in animals essential to reducing the pressure that encourages antimicrobial resistance.
To address the challenge, Pate said the Federal Ministry of Health had introduced an antimicrobial stewardship programme in federal hospitals to promote responsible prescribing and improve compliance with treatment guidelines.
He added that the government was strengthening infection prevention and control in health facilities, improving diagnostic services and working with regulatory agencies to ensure that medicines available in the market were genuine and of acceptable quality.
The Pharmacy Council and other relevant regulators are also expected to play a role in addressing the indiscriminate sale of medicines and promoting appropriate practices among healthcare providers.
The Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Dr. Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, said inappropriate or excessive antimicrobial use could also undermine animal health, food safety, agricultural productivity and livelihoods.
He said the government’s agricultural response would include educating farmers on responsible antimicrobial use, strengthening biosecurity and promoting good agricultural practices.
The Minister of Environment, Abbas Lawal, stressed that antimicrobial resistance spreads across interconnected human, animal and environmental systems, making collaboration among the ministries responsible for health, agriculture, livestock development and the environment essential.
The four ministries have committed to strengthening coordination, promoting responsible antimicrobial use across sectors and tracking progress in tackling the threat.
Nigeria will host the December conference under the theme, “One Health: Advancing Global AMR Commitments to Local Action.” It will be the first time the global ministerial conference is held in Africa.
The meeting is expected to focus on translating international commitments into practical measures to curb antimicrobial resistance, strengthen surveillance and improve access to effective medicines.