By Julian Osamoto
Nigeria will host more than 100 countries in Abuja, from June 28 to 30, 2026, for the 5th High-Level Ministerial Meeting on Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR), as global health experts push for concrete action against a crisis linked to about 4.9 million deaths worldwide.
The summit, the first of its kind to be held in Africa, comes amid growing concern that years of global commitments have produced limited results, particularly in low- and middle-income countries where weak health systems continue to fuel the spread of drug-resistant infections.
At a pre-summit virtual media briefing, Nigeria’s Ministerial Global Envoy on AMR, Dr Ayoade Alakija, said the Abuja meeting is expected to shift focus from policy discussions to implementation. She identified inadequate funding as a major barrier, warning that many national action plans remain largely unexecuted due to lack of resources.
Dr Alakija said the 2026 meeting would adopt a broader approach by bringing together ministers from health, agriculture, environment and finance, noting that antimicrobial resistance now affects multiple sectors beyond human health.
“This is not just about protecting medicines. It is about protecting our animals, our food systems and our environment,” she said, adding that investment in tackling AMR could yield significant economic returns.
Also speaking, Dr Jean Pierre Nyemazi of the Quadripartite Joint Secretariat on AMR described the growing spread of drug resistance as a cross-sectoral challenge affecting food systems, livestock, the environment and national economies. He noted that simple measures such as improved hygiene, access to appropriate medicines and stronger surveillance systems could help reduce the burden.
Dr Nyemazi referenced a global target endorsed in 2024 to reduce AMR-related deaths by 10 per cent by 2030, stressing that progress would depend on countries translating commitments into practical national interventions.
On equity concerns, Shobha Shukla, Chairperson of the Global AMR Media Alliance, said the impact of antimicrobial resistance is more severe in countries with weaker public health systems. She called for improved access to diagnosis, treatment and responsible use of medicines, particularly in vulnerable communities.
Experts at the briefing also pointed to factors driving antimicrobial resistance in Nigeria, including self-medication, poor regulation of drug use and limited access to quality healthcare.
They emphasised that while solutions such as improved sanitation, infection prevention and responsible use of antibiotics are well known, implementation remains inconsistent.
The Abuja meeting is expected to review progress made since previous global engagements, including the 2024 United Nations high-level meeting on AMR, and to strengthen coordination across sectors under the “One Health” approach.
Stakeholders also highlighted the role of the media in sustaining awareness and holding governments accountable, noting that continued reporting will be critical to ensuring that commitments made at the summit translate into measurable outcomes.
With millions of lives at stake, attention is now on whether the Abuja gathering will mark a turning point in the global response to antimicrobial resistance or follow the pattern of past meetings with limited impact.
