Nigeria to Host First Global AMR Conference in Africa

Nigeria is set to make history as the first African nation to host the Global High-Level Ministerial Conference on Antimicrobial Resistance, with the 5th edition scheduled to hold at the Transcorp Hilton in Abuja from December 6 to 8, 2026, bringing together ministers and global health, agriculture and environmental stakeholders from over 100 countries to review progress and develop practical solutions to a crisis linked to an estimated 1.3 million deaths annually worldwide.

The conference, themed “One Health — Advancing Global AMR Commitments through Local Action,” was announced at a press briefing held at the Conference Room of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security on Monday, October 12, 2026. Speaking at the briefing, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, described AMR as a “silent pandemic” and a complicated problem that kills quietly, stressing that the threat requires a combined attack across human health, animal health, agriculture and the environment.

Pate noted that 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 Nigeria is proud to host the 5th edition to deliver on global promises already made — the 2024 UN Political Declaration on AMR, the Muscat Manifesto and the Jeddah Commitments — with the Abuja conference billed to adopt the Abuja Compact on AMR. The Coordinating Minister added that Nigeria’s approach goes beyond healthcare, adopting a One Health strategy that brings together health, agriculture, livestock and environment, warning against indiscriminate and wrong use of antibiotics and urging Nigerians to avoid self-medication and complete their doctor’s prescription to the end.

Also speaking, the Minister of Environment, Malam Balarabe Abbas Lawal, stressed that resistance does not respect boundaries between sectors as it moves from people to animals, from farms to food, and through water, soil and waste, hence no single ministry can win the fight alone. He said the four ministries — Health and Social Welfare, Agriculture and Food Security, Livestock Development, and Environment — are committing to acting as one government through a joint One Health coordination mechanism that will outlast the conference, delivering local action in every sector through responsible antimicrobial use in hospitals, on farms and in animal production, and safe management of waste and water.

The Minister also emphasised the importance of hosting an inclusive conference that gives voice to governments, scientists, civil society, youth, the private sector and communities, while committing to accountability by reporting publicly on Nigeria’s progress and supporting follow-up of the Abuja Compact through the Troika mechanism. He stressed that a clean environment, improved sanitation, personal and community hygiene are critical to preventing infections that drive the need for antibiotics.

On his part, the Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Mukhtar Maiha, represented by the Chief Veterinary Officer, Dr. Abdukareem Durosunlorun, stressed the need for farmer education, warning farmers not to prioritise profit over human health. He urged poultry and livestock farmers to use antibiotics only on prescription and to strictly observe withdrawal periods before taking their products to the market.

The briefing highlighted the broader context of Nigeria’s fight against AMR. The country launched its Second National Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance (NAP 2.0) in 2024, covering 2024 to 2028, which outlines strategies for improving antimicrobial stewardship, enhancing surveillance and detection capabilities, promoting research and development and strengthening healthcare systems. A World Health Organisation evidence brief published in 2026 identified weak regulatory enforcement, fragmented surveillance, inadequate antimicrobial stewardship and limited multisectoral coordination as core barriers to an effective One Health response in Nigeria.

The WHO has described AMR as one of the top global public health threats facing humanity, with 4.95 million human deaths estimated to be associated with bacterial AMR worldwide in 2019. Without urgent action, the crisis is predicted to cause over 39 million deaths in the next 25 years, surpassing current mortality rates. For Nigeria, which ranks 20th globally in AMR cases, the Abuja conference represents both a moment of leadership and a critical opportunity to mobilise global action. As Pate put it, the silent pandemic demands a loud and coordinated response, and Nigeria is determined to lead that charge from the front.