The Federal Government has warned that inappropriate antibiotic use in livestock production and agriculture could accelerate antimicrobial resistance (AMR), making infections in humans increasingly difficult to treat.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), AMR occurs when bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites no longer respond to antimicrobial medicines, making infections harder or impossible to treat and increasing the risk of severe illness and death.

Bacterial AMR was associated with more than 4.7 million deaths globally in 2021, while an estimated 64,500 deaths in Nigeria were attributed to it in 2019.

Speaking ahead of the fifth Global High-Level Ministerial Conference on Antimicrobial Resistance, scheduled to be held in Abuja in December under the theme, “One Health: Advancing Global AMR Commitment Through Local Action”, Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Pate, said resistant organisms could undermine the treatment of pneumonia, typhoid and other infectious diseases.

Pate said the government was addressing AMR through a One Health, whole-of-government approach involving human health, livestock, agriculture, food systems and the environment.

He noted that the ministry had implemented an antimicrobial stewardship programme in federal hospitals over the past two and a half years to promote appropriate prescribing and responsible medicine use.

Other measures included establishing a clinical governance task force earlier in the year, strengthening regulatory oversight by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), improving pharmaceutical distribution, expanding laboratory diagnostic capacity and training health workers.

The minister acknowledged gaps in Nigeria’s AMR surveillance system, which affected the accuracy of national estimates. He said the government was working to improve surveillance, infection prevention and control, antimicrobial stewardship and access to quality medicines.

Pate also identified vaccination as a key preventive measure, explaining that immunisation against infections such as pneumococcal and Haemophilus influenzae pneumonia could reduce antibiotic use.

He urged Nigerians to avoid indiscriminate antibiotic consumption, stressing that not every cough or catarrh required such medication. He advised patients to consult qualified health professionals and follow prescribed treatment schedules.

Pate said the conference would address the need to balance responsible antimicrobial use with access to essential medicines, particularly in countries where many people lack access to necessary antibiotics.

He called for public awareness campaigns using relatable stories and local languages to explain AMR, urging journalists to sustain public engagement and help Nigerians understand their role in preventing drug resistance.

The minister added that the Federal Government was working with state governments, private-sector stakeholders and development partners to strengthen the national response.

Also speaking, Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Dr Aliyu Abdullahi, said AMR threatened human health, agriculture, food security, food safety and livelihoods.

He explained that excessive or inappropriate antimicrobial use in crop and animal production could undermine disease control, compromise food safety and disrupt trade.

Abdullahi said the agricultural sector’s priorities included promoting responsible antimicrobial and agrochemical use, strengthening food safety systems, expanding agricultural extension services.

And educating farmers on good agricultural practices and biosecurity.

He stressed the need to provide farmers with appropriate guidance and sustainable alternatives to protect crops, livestock, consumers and the environment. He also called for practical interventions at farm, community, institutional and national levels to translate global commitments into measurable results.

Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr Adekunle Salako, who presented a joint ministerial position on behalf of four federal ministries responsible for health, agriculture and food security, livestock development, and the environment, described AMR as a major threat to public health, food security, agricultural productivity and environmental sustainability.

Citing the 2022 Lancet-GRAM study, Salako said bacterial AMR directly caused an estimated 1.27 million deaths globally in 2019, including 64,500 in Nigeria.

Without urgent, coordinated action, he warned, more than 39 million deaths could be directly attributable to AMR worldwide between 2025 and 2050.

“Science and research have established that antimicrobial resistance is one of the greatest threats of our time. When antibiotics and other antimicrobials stop working, routine infections become dangerous, surgery and childbirth carry greater risks, and the cost of care rises for every family,” he said.

Salako noted that the international community had made significant commitments through the 2024 United Nations General Assembly Political Declaration on AMR, the Muscat Ministerial Manifesto and the Jeddah Commitments. He stressed that the priority must now shift from declarations to implementation.

He said the December conference would review progress on existing commitments, accelerate high-impact interventions and strengthen AMR governance. A major expected outcome is the adoption of the Abuja Compact on Antimicrobial Resistance, being developed through consultations with member states and relevant stakeholders to provide a framework for translating political commitments into measurable results.

Minister of Environment, Balarabe Lawal, said resistant organisms could spread among humans, animals, farms, food systems and the environment through water, soil and waste.

“Resistance does not respect boundaries. It cuts across sectors. It moves from people to animals, from farms to food, and through water, soil and waste systems,” he said.

Lawal said the four ministries responsible for Nigeria’s One Health response had committed to establishing a joint coordination mechanism that would continue beyond the conference.

He added that the government would promote responsible antimicrobial use across sectors, improve waste and water management, and ensure the participation of governments, scientists, civil society organisations, the media, the private sector and communities.

Nigeria, he said, would publicly report its progress and support the implementation of the Abuja Compact through a tracking mechanism. He also urged Nigerians to improve environmental hygiene as part of efforts to prevent disease.