The federal authorities has acknowledged gaps in Nigeria’s antimicrobial resistance (AMR) surveillance, saying obtainable estimates could not absolutely replicate the nation’s burden of drug-resistant infections.
The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Muhammad Pate, disclosed this on Monday in Abuja at a joint One Health ministerial briefing forward of the fifth Global High-Level Ministerial Conference on AMR.
The convention is scheduled for Abuja from 6 to eight December 2026 and would be the first to be held on African soil. The convention theme is “One Health: Advancing Global AMR Commitments to Local Action.”
Mr Pate mentioned Nigeria had proof of antimicrobial resistance in hospitals, however surveillance gaps made it tough to supply correct nationwide estimates.
“The specific numbers depend on the surveillance capabilities. I have to admit that there are still gaps in surveillance,” he mentioned.
He added that Nigeria’s figures “may not be the same” as estimates from international locations with stronger surveillance methods.
AMR happens when micro organism, viruses, fungi, and parasites grow to be immune to medicines used to deal with infections, making them much less efficient or ineffective.
Deaths recorded in Nigeria
Nigeria’s One Health Antimicrobial Resistance National Action Plan 2024-2028 estimates that 64,500 deaths in Nigeria in 2019 had been attributable to AMR, whereas 263,400 deaths had been related to AMR. It cautions that the figures are doubtless underestimated due to gaps in nationwide AMR surveillance.
Globally, the 2019 Global Research on Antimicrobial Resistance (GRAM) study estimated that bacterial AMR straight prompted 1.27 million deaths and was related to 4.95 million deaths.
Mr Pate described AMR as a “hidden pandemic”, saying resistant infections had been typically not instantly recognised as the reason for extended sickness or therapy failure.
“Folks go to hospitals, get treated for pneumonia, typhoid, or whatever infectious disease. In some places, without proper knowledge of the sensitivity to the antimicrobial being used, individuals may suffer much longer than they should, and some may have complications or lose their lives,” he mentioned.
He mentioned Nigerian hospitals had recorded instances of sophisticated pneumonia the place sufferers acquired a number of antibiotics however failed to enhance.
“You don’t know why the patient is not getting better, but the root cause is antimicrobial resistance,” he mentioned.
Surveillance gaps
The minister’s feedback come as efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s capacity to generate AMR knowledge.
In December 2025, Nigeria launched its first nationally consultant AMR survey to determine a nationwide baseline on antimicrobial resistance and strengthen routine surveillance.
The survey is designed to cowl 40 to 45 randomly chosen well being amenities throughout the nation and contain about 35,000 sufferers suspected of getting bloodstream infections.
The train can also be anticipated to evaluate the burden of AMR, together with morbidity, mortality and the price of resistant infections, whereas strengthening laboratory and knowledge methods.
A 2025 study assessing 302 laboratories in Nigeria additionally discovered vital gaps in their capability to help AMR surveillance.
Only 7.3 per cent of the laboratories surveyed had been thought of absolutely prepared for AMR Surveillance, whereas 12.3 per cent reported taking part in AMR surveillance.
The researchers mentioned AMR surveillance was concentrated in authorities and tertiary laboratories, leaving lower-level and rural amenities underused and ensuing in gaps in community-level knowledge.
Government response
Mr Pate mentioned the federal government is responding to AMR by means of a whole-of-government strategy involving the well being, agriculture, livestock and setting sectors.
He mentioned the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare had operated an antimicrobial stewardship programme in federal hospitals for the previous two and a half years to advertise acceptable antimicrobial use.
He additionally mentioned a medical governance activity pressure was established earlier this yr to information hospital practices that might expose sufferers to healthcare-associated infections.
Other measures, he mentioned, embody stronger regulatory oversight, improved pharmaceutical distribution, expanded diagnostic capability and coaching of well being staff.
Mr Pate mentioned vaccination and an infection prevention additionally assist cut back the necessity for antimicrobials. He urged Nigerians to keep away from indiscriminate antibiotic use and search medical recommendation earlier than taking them.
“It’s not every cough that needs to use antibiotics. It’s not every catarrh that needs to use antibiotics,” he mentioned.
Conference
The Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Iziaq Salako, mentioned the December convention would give attention to reviewing progress, accelerating high-impact interventions and strengthening international AMR governance.
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He mentioned the convention would additionally search to develop the Abuja Compact on Antimicrobial Resistance, which member states and stakeholders are shaping by means of consultations.
The Minister of Environment, Balarabe Lawal, mentioned resistant organisms may transfer between people, animals, farms, meals methods and the setting.
Mr Lawal mentioned the 4 ministries main Nigeria’s One Health response had dedicated to joint coordination, sector-specific motion, public reporting and a tracking mechanism for implementation of the Abuja Compact.
Mr Pate mentioned the federal government would proceed working with state governments, private-sector stakeholders and improvement companions to strengthen Nigeria’s response to AMR.
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