Experts Urge Increased Funding to Contain Escalating Antimicrobial Resistance Threat
Koko Maxwella 
ABUJA, Health experts have called for urgent and sustained funding to tackle antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in Nigeria, warning that inadequate financing poses a major threat to national and global health security. The appeal was made in Abuja during a multi-stakeholder engagement focused on resource mobilisation for AMR surveillance and containment.
According to the World Health Organisation, AMR occurs when microorganisms evolve and no longer respond to available medicines, making infections harder—or sometimes impossible—to treat. WHO Representative Dr Pavel Ursu said Nigeria has lost more than 60,000 people annually to AMR since 1990.
Global health specialist Omolara Oyinlola described AMR as a “One Health challenge” that affects humans, animals and the environment. While Nigeria has made incremental progress, she warned that weak enforcement of antimicrobial regulations, poor public awareness, inadequate surveillance data and low budgetary commitment continue to hinder progress.
“AMR is a financing problem as much as a technical one,” she said, adding that fragmented, short-term or absent funding undermines surveillance, containment and response structures. She noted that Nigeria needs about $77 million to address AMR effectively, even as global projections suggest the world could lose $100 trillion to AMR by 2050.
Public health expert Dr Laz Eze said AMR has made even common infections harder to treat, resulting in higher complications and deaths. He urged stronger collaboration between government, civil society and development partners.
Deputy Director at the National Assembly, Grace Tyowua, emphasised that legislative backing is essential for sustained, accountable financing. She said stronger budgetary prioritisation and improved coordination between the executive and legislature would support long-term AMR interventions.
Speakers agreed that AMR is a growing emergency requiring coordinated multi-sector collaboration, strengthened surveillance systems and financing mechanisms that match the scale of the threat.
About the Author
Oluwatobi Adu 
Edino Chubiyo Cornelius 
