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By Linda Ikeji 13 October 2026, 12:35 pm 0 comments
The Federal Government has expressed concern over the growing threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), which was estimated to have caused 64,500 lives to be cut short in Nigeria in 2019.
The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Pate, raised the concern at a joint ministerial press conference in Abuja on Monday, October 12.
The press conference was organised by the ministries of health and social welfare, agriculture and food security, livestock development, and environment.
The four ministries are leading Nigeria’s One Health response to antimicrobial resistance.
“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,” Pate said.
The Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, said antimicrobial resistance posed a serious threat to agricultural production and food security.
He warned that the inappropriate or excessive use of antimicrobials could undermine disease control, reduce productivity and compromise food safety.
Abdullahi said the One Health approach recognised the links between human, animal and environmental health and provided a framework for coordinated policies, effective surveillance and sustainable interventions.
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