AMR Linked To 263,400 Deaths In Nigeria In 2019, National Estimates Show
Dr. Nafisat Makinde, Abuja
Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) was associated with an estimated 263,400 deaths in Nigeria in 2019, including 64,500 deaths directly attributable to resistant infections, according to Nigeria’s One Health Antimicrobial Resistance National Action Plan for 2024 to 2028. The figures highlight a public health problem that makes infections harder to treat when medicines no longer work as expected.
AMR develops when microorganisms, including bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites, become resistant to medicines used to treat infections. This can leave patients with fewer effective treatment options and increase the risk of complications. Antibiotics are intended to treat bacterial infections, not illnesses caused by viruses. Taking them unnecessarily, using them without appropriate medical advice or failing to follow a prescribed treatment plan can contribute to the wider problem.
The Nigerian figures measure two different aspects of the burden. The 64,500 deaths were estimated to be directly attributable to AMR, while the 263,400 deaths were associated with it. Both figures refer to 2019, not the current annual death toll. Globally, a 2022 study published in The Lancet estimated that bacterial AMR directly caused 1.27 million deaths in 2019 and was associated with 4.95 million deaths.
Nigeria also faces challenges in tracking drug-resistant infections. A study published in Antimicrobial Resistance & Infection Control in 2025 analysed responses from 302 laboratories using data collected between December 2020 and July 2021. It found that 7.3% met the study’s criteria for full readiness for AMR surveillance, while 12.3% reported participating in surveillance activities. Only 1% reported recording key microbiological data linked to epidemiological information. The findings apply to the laboratories surveyed and do not represent a census of every laboratory in the country.
To improve the evidence available to health authorities, Nigeria launched its first nationally representative AMR survey in December 2025, with support from the World Health Organization and partners. The survey is designed to cover 40 to 45 randomly selected health facilities and approximately 35,000 patients suspected of having bloodstream infections. It will examine patterns of resistance and help establish a national baseline. The survey was planned to run for 12 to 15 months, and its final findings should not be assumed to be available before they are officially released.
The Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare has introduced antimicrobial stewardship programmes in federal hospitals and established a clinical governance task force to address hospital-acquired infections. Efforts to tackle AMR also require better laboratory testing, infection prevention and responsible use of medicines in human healthcare and livestock production. Health professionals need reliable test results to help identify effective treatments, while patients should avoid self-prescribing antibiotics or using leftover medicines without appropriate medical advice.
Nigeria is scheduled to host the fifth Global High-Level Ministerial Conference on Antimicrobial Resistance in Abuja from Dec. 6 to 8, 2026, at the Transcorp Hilton. The conference, which will be the first of its kind held in Africa, is expected to bring together government officials and experts from human health, agriculture, livestock and environmental sectors. Its theme is “One Health: Advancing Global AMR Commitment Through Local Action,” and discussions will focus on turning international promises into practical action, including through the proposed Abuja Compact on Antimicrobial Resistance.
The conference will provide an opportunity for participating countries to strengthen cooperation, but progress will depend on what happens after the meeting. For Nigeria, that means improving the collection of reliable data, strengthening laboratory capacity, promoting responsible use of antimicrobial medicines and monitoring whether policies are being implemented. These steps are important to help preserve the effectiveness of existing medicines and ensure that patients can still receive effective treatment for infections.