The Federal Government has raised concerns over the growing threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), which was estimated to have contributed to 64,500 deaths in Nigeria in 2019.
The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, raised the alarm on Monday, October 12, 2026, during a joint ministerial press conference in Abuja.
The briefing was organised by the ministries responsible for health, agriculture and food security, livestock development, and the environment as part of efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s response to antimicrobial resistance.
Pate described AMR as a “hidden pandemic,” warning that when antibiotics and other antimicrobial medicines lose their effectiveness, infections that are normally treatable can become life-threatening.
“Antimicrobial resistance is one of the gravest threats of our time. When antibiotics and other antimicrobials stop working, routine infections become dangerous, surgery and childbirth carry greater risk, and the cost of care rises for every family,” he said.
The minister explained that drug resistance could result in prolonged illnesses, complications and deaths, particularly when patients receive medicines that are ineffective against resistant organisms.
He also acknowledged gaps in Nigeria’s surveillance systems, noting that the available figures might not fully reflect the actual burden of antimicrobial resistance in the country.
According to Nigeria’s National Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance, an estimated 64,500 deaths were directly attributable to AMR in 2019, while another 263,400 deaths were associated with it.
Pate said the government was strengthening measures to promote the responsible use of antibiotics, improve laboratory diagnosis, prevent infections and enhance surveillance across healthcare facilities.
He urged Nigerians to avoid self-medication and the indiscriminate use of antibiotics, stressing that these medicines should be taken only when appropriately prescribed by qualified healthcare professionals.
The Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, also warned that antimicrobial resistance posed a serious threat to agricultural production and food security.
He explained that inappropriate or excessive use of antimicrobial medicines in agriculture and livestock production could undermine disease control, reduce productivity and compromise food safety.
The ministers stressed the importance of the One Health approach, which recognises the interconnectedness of human, animal and environmental health in tackling the spread of drug-resistant infections.
Nigeria is scheduled to host the Fifth Global High-Level Ministerial Conference on Antimicrobial Resistance in Abuja from December 6 to 8, 2026. The conference is expected to bring together international health experts, policymakers and other stakeholders to strengthen global efforts against drug resistance.
The Federal Government said it remained committed to coordinated action to preserve the effectiveness of essential medicines and reduce the growing threat posed by antimicrobial resistance.
