FG Warns Nigerians Against Misuse of Antibiotics

The Federal Government has cautioned Nigerians to stop the misuse and indiscriminate use of antibiotics, warning that the practice is accelerating the threat of antimicrobial resistance across the country.

The call was issued by the Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Maiha, in a statement released on Wednesday by Ogochukwu Igboamalu, Assistant Chief Executive Officer (Information), Press and Public Relations Department of the ministry.

Maiha, who spoke in Abuja on Tuesday during the flag-off of the 2025 World Antimicrobial Resistance Awareness Week (WAAW), urged citizens, particularly health professionals, to end the inappropriate and unprescribed use of antibiotics in humans, animals, and plants.

He was represented at the event by the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Dr. Chinyere Akujobi.

This year’s WAAW theme, “Act Now, Protect Our Present, Secure Our Future,” underscores the urgency of collective action to curb antimicrobial misuse. The message, according to the ministry, is a reminder that responsible use of antibiotics today will determine the country’s ability to treat infections in the future.

Explaining the severity of the problem, Maiha noted that antimicrobial resistance (AMR) occurs when bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites stop responding to medicines that were once effective. He described AMR as “one of the most critical public health threats globally,” warning that its rise is already limiting treatment options for common infections.

He pointed to the grim global projections showing that by 2050, AMR could cause up to 10 million deaths annually, with Africa potentially accounting for about 4 million of those casualties. He emphasised that clinicians, veterinarians, and other practitioners must use antimicrobials “responsibly and prudently,” especially in humans and food-producing animals.

The Chief Veterinary Officer of Nigeria, Dr. Samuel Anzaku, noted that combating AMR requires coordinated, multi-sector action under the One Health approach. Represented by the National Coordinator for PPR, Dr. Patience Tomoh, he warned that continued misuse of antimicrobials across humans, animals, and crops “threatens food systems, economies, and sustainable development.”

The Director-General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), represented by Dr. Nasir Ahmed, echoed the call for stronger surveillance and responsible antibiotic use. He also emphasised the need for deeper collaboration across all sectors of the One Health ecosystem.

In the same vein, the Director of Pollution Control and Environmental Health at the Federal Ministry of Environment, represented by Chief Environmental Health Officer Chika Okpala, reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to advancing environmental surveillance. She pointed to ongoing wastewater and hotspot monitoring, along with efforts to promote antimicrobial stewardship through pollution control and WASH interventions.

Goodwill messages also came from the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), conveyed by Dr. Solomon Olorunleke, who reaffirmed FAO’s support for combating AMR and strengthening food security in Nigeria. Additional messages were delivered by the World Health Organisation (WHO), Fleming Fund MSH, DRASA, DUCIT Blue, the NCDC, the Veterinary Council of Nigeria, and the National Veterinary Medical Association.

The week-long World Antimicrobial Resistance Awareness campaign runs until November 24. Throughout the period, the Ministry of Livestock Development and its One Health partners will embark on sensitisation drives across Abuja and selected states to educate the public, engage livestock farmers, and reinforce the country’s commitment to responsible antimicrobial use.