‘A Historic Milestone for Nigeria - for Africa.’

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR), when fungi, bacteria, viruses and parasites evolve to resist the antimicrobial medicines designed to kill them, is quickly accelerating, fuelling a “silent pandemic”. Since 1990, at least one million people have died from AMR every year. In the next 25 years, it could cause the deaths of almost 40 million people.

Nigeria’s hosting of the 5th Ministerial Conference on AMR marks a historic and strategic milestone, being the first time the conference will be held on the African continent. It underscores Nigeria’s leadership in advancing Africa’s health and environmental security and offers a platform to amplify African voices and prioritize low- and middle-income country (LMIC) perspectives in shaping the global AMR response. The conference will spotlight progress across the continent, foster stronger regional solidarity, and serve as a catalyst for embedding equity, inclusiveness, and shared responsibility in global AMR governance.

Convened at a pivotal moment, the 2026 conference aligns with major developments in the global AMR landscape. It falls midway between the 2024 UNGA High-Level Meeting and the 2029 review of the Political Declaration, offering a unique opportunity to assess progress and inform necessary adjustments. It also coincides with the revision of the Global Action Plan on AMR (GAP-AMR) and the launch of the Independent Panel on Evidence for Action against AMR (IPEA) both processes being led by the Quadripartite organizations in 2025, reinforcing the importance of evidence-based policy, uptake and coordinated action.

These mutually reinforcing dynamics position the Abuja conference as a critical inflection point to reaffirm global commitment, accelerate innovations, and advance inclusive and environmentally sustainable solutions, especially focusing on countries most affected by AMR.

Objectives, Themes, and Strategic Focus

The 5th High-Level Ministerial Conference on AMR will serve as a global platform for high-level dialogue, progress review, and renewed political commitment. Building on the outcomes of previous Ministerial Conferences and the 2024 UNGA Political Declaration on AMR, the conference will reinforce political momentum, accelerate implementation, and shape forward-looking action across sectors and regions.

The outcome document of the 4th High Level Ministerial Conference in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia included the establishment of the Troika process, involving the former, present and future presidencies, with the technical support of the Quadripartite organization to track progress on the commitments made.

As the next host of a High-Level Ministerial Conference, Nigeria is chairing the Troika process, establishing a series of meetings with past presidencies to evaluate progress on commitments, align on continuation of initiatives and foster synergies amongst the Troika countries. Joint side events at relevant global meetings and a joint convening of financial institutions may be considered.

The overarching theme, “One Health: Advancing Global AMR Commitments through Local Action” reflects the need to translate global ambitions into tangible national and subnational outcomes, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Emphasis will be placed on action, equity, innovation, and environmental sustainability. The conference will focus on tracking implementation and ensuring stakeholders are accountable; addressing persistent gaps in the availability of antimicrobials, diagnostics and preventive measures in LMICs; and promoting forward-looking tools, sustainable financing mechanisms, and inclusive leadership to drive long-term progress.