Nigeria brings livestock, health ministries together to tackle antimicrobial resistance

NIGERIA – Nigeria is strengthening cooperation among its agriculture, health, environment, and livestock ministries to tackle antimicrobial resistance (AMR), with responsible antibiotic use in animal production as a key part of the country’s response.

Speaking at a joint ministerial briefing in Abuja ahead of the fifth Global High-Level Ministerial Conference on Antimicrobial Resistance, scheduled for 6-8 December 2026, Health and Social Welfare Minister Muhammad Ali Pate said the government was pursuing a multisectoral approach to address the growing threat.

The conference, which will be hosted in Africa for the first time, will focus on the theme “One Health: Advancing Global AMR Commitments Through Global Action.”

Antimicrobial resistance occurs when bacteria and other microorganisms develop resistance to medicines used to treat infections, making diseases more difficult to control. 

Resistant organisms can spread between humans, animals, food systems, and the environment, so coordinated action across these sectors is essential.

According to Pate, livestock production uses a significant amount of antibiotics, so responsible antimicrobial use in the sector is essential to limiting the development and spread of resistance.

The Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Sabi Abdullahi, called for more responsible use of antimicrobials and agrochemicals, stronger food safety systems and expanded agricultural extension services to improve farmers’ knowledge of good agricultural practices and biosecurity.

He warned that inappropriate or excessive antimicrobial use could undermine disease control, reduce agricultural productivity, compromise food safety, disrupt trade and threaten farmers’ livelihoods.

For livestock producers, these risks underline the importance of preventing infections through effective biosecurity, appropriate vaccination and better husbandry, alongside veterinary oversight of antimicrobial treatment.

The government said it was strengthening infection prevention, improving diagnostic and laboratory capacity, training health workers and addressing the indiscriminate sale of antimicrobial medicines. 

It also plans to improve surveillance and promote responsible antimicrobial use across healthcare and animal production.

The ministers committed to strengthening inter-ministerial cooperation through a One Health mechanism intended to continue beyond the conference.

The meeting is expected to advance the proposed Abuja Compact on Antimicrobial Resistance, which aims to translate global commitments into practical action and accountability measures.

Implementation will be critical for Nigeria’s livestock sector to ensure that responsible antimicrobial use translates into better disease management, improved food safety and more sustainable animal production.

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