Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), has stressed the need for collective action in the fight against antimicrobial resistance (AMR).
In a statement issued on Sunday to mark the 2025 World Antimicrobial Awareness Week (WAAW), themed “Act Now: Protect Our Present, Secure Our Future,” Adeyeye said antimicrobial remain indispensable in treating infections but warned that misuse undermines their effectiveness.
She described the 2025 theme as a powerful call to action, noting that human, animal and environmental health are closely interconnected. She urged all stakeholders to work together to address the threat posed by AMR.
“This theme reminds us that the fight against AMR extends beyond hospitals and pharmacies; it also begins on our farms, in our veterinary clinics and across our food production systems,” she said. “The choices we make today, both in human and animal health, will determine the health security of our nation for generations to come.”
Adeyeye warned that AMR leads to treatment failures, prolonged illness, increased mortality and greater risks during medical procedures.
She condemned the indiscriminate use of antimicrobial for growth promotion, routine disease prevention and unregulated application in aquaculture and crop farming, saying such practices create breeding grounds for resistant pathogens.
“These resistant bacteria can spread to humans through food, water sources and direct contact with animals. Resistance anywhere is a threat everywhere,” she said. “To protect our shared future, we must ‘Act Now’ by promoting sustainable agricultural practices, enforcing biosecurity and encouraging good animal husbandry and responsible antimicrobial use.”
The NAFDAC chief highlighted the agency’s efforts to safeguard public health through a One Health approach implemented via a multi-sectoral framework.
She outlined four key priorities guiding NAFDAC’s response to AMR: strengthening regulation and surveillance; promoting antibiotic stewardship in communities and hospitals; encouraging rational use in animal care and across agricultural value chains; and enhancing public and professional awareness.
Adeyeye reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to ensuring that antimicrobial for animals are used strictly under veterinary supervision.
“We are working closely with the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development and the veterinary community to promote safer alternatives and ensure best practices,” she said. “Through nationwide campaigns, we are educating the public, farmers and professionals alike. Our message is simple: responsible antimicrobial use is everyone’s responsibility. Protecting animals means protecting people and preserving the power of antimicrobial for the future.”
She also urged pharmacists to dispense antimicrobial only with valid prescriptions and educate consumers on their proper use. Nigerians, she added, must avoid self-medication.
Adeyeye called on the media to amplify awareness around AMR.
