Antimicrobial Resistance Is A Silent Killer, Deadlier Than HIV, TB, Malaria Combined” — NCDC Raises Alarm Over Misuse Of Antibiotics

Nigeria’s ability to treat common infections could be seriously jeopardised by the rise of drug-resistant organisms, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has warned, as it raises alarms over the growing crisis of antimicrobial resistance (AMR).

NCDC Director-General Dr Jide Idris described AMR as a “silent killer” that now causes more deaths globally than malaria, tuberculosis, and HIV/AIDS combined.

“AMR is a silent killer. It kills more than the combination of malaria, tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS together. The worst thing is that not much is known about it, especially among the public. It has become a global focus,” Idris told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in an interview on Saturday.

It is unacceptable that most Nigerians don’t know how dangerous AMR is,” he stated.

Antimicrobial resistance occurs when microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites evolve to withstand the medications meant to kill them. This makes previously treatable infections harder to cure and increases the risks associated with surgeries, childbirth, and chemotherapy.

While some level of resistance occurs naturally, Idris emphasised that the misuse and overuse of antibiotics—in human medicine, agriculture, and even animal rearing—have significantly increased the phenomenon.

According to him, antibiotics are often accessed without prescriptions, and even healthcare professionals frequently prescribe them without proper diagnosis, which he says further fuels the crisis.

If you must take antibiotics, it must be based on the prescription of a licenced doctor. People should not be going to buy over-the-counter antibiotics. People should stop prescribing antibiotics for themselves,” he added.

He claimed that the federal government is implementing its second National Action Plan on AMR, which includes measures such as infection prevention and control, antimicrobial stewardship, and sustainable financing to support long-term solutions.

He added that Nigeria will host the 5th Global High-Level Ministerial Conference on AMR in 2026.

The World Health Organisation has flagged AMR as one of the top 10 global public health threats. It will be recalled that West Africa Weekly reported that a study published in The Lancet has warned that over 39 million people worldwide could die from antibiotic-resistant infections by 2050.

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