Nigeria to Host First Ever Global Meeting on Antimicrobial Resistance

Nigeria will host the 5th High Level Ministerial Meeting on antimicrobial resistance, marking the first time the global summit will be held in Africa.

The meeting, scheduled for June 28 to 30, 2026 in Abuja, is expected to attract delegates from over 100 countries, including heads of state and senior government officials. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will host the opening session.

Nigeria’s Ministerial Global Envoy on AMR, Ayoade Alakija, said the gathering will focus on translating global commitments into practical local action using the One Health approach, which integrates human, animal and environmental health.

Antimicrobial resistance occurs when bacteria, viruses and other microbes no longer respond to medicines, making infections harder to treat and increasing the risk of disease spread, severe illness and death. Experts say the problem is driven largely by misuse and overuse of drugs in healthcare, agriculture and livestock.

According to Jean Pierre Nyemazi, Director of the Quadripartite Joint Secretariat on AMR, the threat is especially severe in low and middle income countries, where health systems are often under pressure.

The meeting will build on previous global commitments, including those made at the 2024 United Nations General Assembly High Level Meeting on AMR, and is expected to accelerate implementation of national action plans across countries.

Key international partners supporting the event include the World Health Organization, Food and Agriculture Organization, United Nations Environment Programme and the World Organisation for Animal Health.

Organisers say this year’s meeting will take a broader approach by involving ministers from agriculture, environment and finance ministries, in addition to health officials, to address the full scope of the AMR challenge.

Discussions will also focus on financing, prevention strategies, surveillance systems, and improving access to essential medicines. Experts estimate that every dollar invested in tackling AMR could yield up to eleven dollars in returns.

Participants will review progress toward the global goal of reducing AMR related deaths by 10 percent by 2030, while emphasising the need for equitable healthcare access and responsible use of antimicrobials.

The Global AMR Media Alliance will also use the platform to highlight the role of journalism in combating misinformation and raising awareness, alongside announcing its 2026 media awards.

Stakeholders say the Abuja meeting represents a critical opportunity to strengthen global cooperation and drive sustained action against antimicrobial resistance, a growing threat to health, food systems and the environment worldwide.