Nigeria to Host Global Ministerial Conference on Antimicrobial Resistance

By Ojoma Akor

Abuja, Nigeria — Nigeria will host the fifth Global High-Level Ministerial Conference on Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) from December 6 to 8, 2026, the federal government has said.

At a joint ministerial briefing in Abuja on October 12, the Federal Government said the meeting would focus on translating international commitments into practical interventions across human health, agriculture, livestock production and the environment.

The conference, which will be held in Abuja for the first time on African soil, is expected to bring together global stakeholders to accelerate action against antimicrobial resistance, a growing public health threat that makes infections increasingly difficult to treat.The conference, themed “One Health: Advancing Global AMR Commitments to Local Action,” will also advance the proposed Abuja Compact on Antimicrobial Resistance, which is being developed through consultations with member states and other stakeholders.

According to the ministers, the Compact is intended to strengthen accountability and move countries from making commitments to implementing measurable interventions.

The ministers said the government is also stepping up efforts to tackle drug-resistant infections linked to an estimated 64,500 deaths in 2019.

Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, said AMR is a “hidden pandemic,” warning that patients could experience prolonged illnesses, complications or death when infections do not respond to available medicines.

He said some patients treated for pneumonia and other infectious diseases might fail to recover because the antimicrobial drugs prescribed are ineffective against resistant organisms.

Pate acknowledged gaps in Nigeria’s AMR surveillance system, noting that these limitations affect the accuracy of estimates of the country’s burden.

He said the government was pursuing a coordinated response involving multiple ministries, regulatory agencies, healthcare facilities, state governments, and private-sector stakeholders.

“We are addressing it as a collective, whole-of-government effort, he said, highlighting the need for stronger prevention, diagnosis, and responsible use of antimicrobials.

The Coordinating Minister said the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare had operated an antimicrobial stewardship program for federal hospitals for about two and a half years, providing guidelines to improve prescribing practices.

He also cited the establishment of a clinical governance task force earlier in 2026 to strengthen hospital practices and reduce risks associated with healthcare-associated infections.

Other measures include efforts to improve diagnostic capacity, ensure the quality of medicines in the market, curb indiscriminate sales of antimicrobials and expand access to quality medicines produced locally.

AMR threatens food security, agriculture

The government said the threat extends beyond hospitals, with inappropriate antimicrobial use in livestock production and agriculture contributing to the emergence and spread of resistance.

Dr Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, said AMR posed a significant threat to agriculture, food safety, trade and livelihoods.

He noted that antimicrobials are used in human and animal health and, in specific contexts, to protect plant health. Still, their excessive or inappropriate use can undermine disease control and accelerate resistance.

He said the agriculture sector’s priorities include promoting responsible antimicrobial and agrochemical use, strengthening food safety systems, expanding agricultural extension services and educating farmers on good agricultural practices and biosecurity.

Abdullahi stressed the need to provide farmers with appropriate guidance and sustainable alternatives to protect crops, livestock, consumers and the environment.

Pate also highlighted the importance of the livestock sector, noting that its antimicrobial use has implications for the development of resistance that can ultimately affect human health.

Four ministries commit to coordinated action

Minister of Environment Balarabe Abbas Lawal said resistance could spread between people, animals, farms, food systems and the environment through water, soil and waste.

In an ambitious move to bolster Nigeria’s response efforts, he unveiled four key commitments from the ministries of health, agriculture, livestock development, and environment. These initiatives aim to create a more resilient and proactive approach to the challenges facing the nation. In an ambitious move to bolster Nigeria’s response efforts, he unveiled four key commitments from the ministries of health, agriculture, livestock development, and environment.

These initiatives aim to create a more resilient and proactive approach to the challenges facing the nation.In an ambitious move to bolster Nigeria’s response efforts, he unveiled four key commitments from the ministries of health, agriculture, livestock development, and environment. These initiatives aim to create a more resilient and proactive approach to the challenges facing the nation.

These include establishing a joint One Health coordination mechanism that will continue beyond the December conference; implementing sector-specific actions to promote responsible antimicrobial use and safer waste and water management; ensuring inclusive participation in the conference; and publicly reporting progress through a mechanism to track implementation of the Abuja Compact.

Lawal said the commitments were intended to ensure that the country’s response would not end with the conference.

The ministers also called for stronger collaboration among governments, scientists, civil society organizations, the media, private-sector actors and communities.

Global burden underscores urgency

A ministerial statement delivered by the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr Iziaq Adekunle Salako, at the briefing cited the 2022 Lancet GRAM study, which estimated that bacterial antimicrobial resistance was directly responsible for 1.27 million deaths globally in 2019.

It also put Nigeria’s estimated AMR-attributable deaths at 64,500 for the same year.

The statement warned that, without effective action, more than 39 million deaths could be directly attributable to AMR worldwide between 2025 and 2050.

The figures underscore the need to improve surveillance, prevent infections, strengthen laboratory capacity and ensure that antimicrobial medicines are used appropriately.

The ministers said the Abuja conference would provide an opportunity to review progress on global commitments, accelerate high-impact interventions and strengthen international governance on AMR.

Nigeria is also seeking to demonstrate how African countries can translate global commitments into practical action through coordinated policies, stronger surveillance and responsible antimicrobial use.

The government said the meeting’s success would ultimately depend on sustained implementation at national and subnational levels, including in healthcare facilities, farms and communities.

Nigeria will host the fifth Global High-Level Ministerial Conference on Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) from December 6 to 8, 2026, the federal government has said.