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FG Launches the National Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Policy for Environment Sector
FG Launches the National Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Policy for Environment Sector
By: Michael Mike
The Federal Government has intensified the fight against antimicrobial resistance, which is estimated to lead to a global US$ 1 trillion additional healthcare costs by 2050, and US$ 1 trillion to US$ 3.4 trillion gross domestic product (GDP) losses per year by 2030, with the launch of the National Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Policy for Environment Sector on Thursday
Speaking at the Launch in Abuja, the Minister of State for Environment, Dr. Iziaq Salako noted that a lot still needs to be done for the environment sector to come up to speed and be at par with other One Health sectors with regards to AMR management. He said: “It is in this context and in line with the mandate of the ministry that this policy on national antimicrobial resistance for the environment sector has been developed.”

The Minister said: “You will agree with me that antibiotics play a critical role in reducing the burden of communicable disease all over the world. However, resistance to previously potent antibiotics has become a major problem of major public health significance requiring a range of interventions and multidisciplinary approach. This growing trend of resistance to antibiotics calls for global action to monitor and control unnecessary use of antibiotics in humans and animals which eventually gets to the environment.”
Salako added that: “Antimicrobial resistance is not only a public health threats, it has huge implications for global economic wellbeing and security, affecting both developed and developing countries. AMR is listed by the World Health Organization as one of the ten top threats to global health. According to the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP), AMR is a global crisis that cannot be understood or addressed separately from the triple planetary crisis.”

He noted that: “The report of the 2022 Global Antimicrobial Resistance and Use Surveillance System (GLASS) report highlights alarming resistance rates among bacterial pathogens that causes the deadliest infections with other pathogens like virus, fungi and protozoa also becoming resistant. This report shows that AMR threat is growing at an alarming rate making treatment challenging with longer hospital stays, increased mortality and higher healthcare cost. The World Bank estimates that AMR could result in US$ 1 trillion additional healthcare costs by 2050, and US$ 1 trillion to US$ 3.4 trillion gross domestic product (GDP) losses per year by 2030.”
The Minister said: “Nigeria as a responsible member of the global community is committed to adopting a holistic approach to addressing AMR to ensuring all of sector involvement, no duplication and efficient use of scarce resources. To achieve this, and protect public health, food security and the environment, the recognition of the interconnectedness between human, animal and environmental health in line with the One Health principles is central.”
Salako noted that: “In this regard, the Federal Ministry of Environment has embarked on a number activities aimed at laying a solid foundation for AMR surveillance in the environment sector of our country. This includes: AMR situation analysis in environment sector conducted in 2020 including laboratory and capacity needs assessment of environmental reference laboratories domicile with NESREA to pave way for setting up AMR surveillance in the environment sector and provide recommendations for strengthening capacities for AMR surveillance within the sector.
“Establishment of the Integrated National Environmental Health Surveillance System (INEHSS) in 2022 for real time environmental health and sanitation scientific data collection and processing for informed policy decisions, planning, monitoring, evaluation, early warning signals and response to environmental health challenges including disease outbreak. The INEHSS provides a premise for AMR surveillance in the environment considering the unsound release of antimicrobial residues in our environment.”
He revealed that with collaboration with other stakeholders, the Federal Ministry of Environment intends to create AMR surveillance system in the environment sector by integrating AMR into INEHSS which is an existing surveillance system in the environment sector, in order to provide timely alerts on AMR spread; regulate the discharge and distribution of antimicrobials into the environment; promote public knowledge and awareness on AMR and implication of indiscriminate Antimicrobial Discharge (AMD) into the environment; establish national standards for monitoring and controlling antimicrobials in the environment through the development of
roadmap for monitoring AMR in the environment, standards for Antimicrobial residue, Antimicrobial Resistance Genes (ARG) and Antimicrobial Resistant Bacteria (ARB) discharge into the environment
He said this includes database of all allied industries, institutes, healthcare facilities and farms in Nigeria and most importantly strengthening of Environmental Health Officers’ capacity to track the activities of the culpable facilities.
On his part, the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) Representative Ad-Interim in Nigeria and ECOWAS, Mr. Koffy Kouacou Dominique said: “The antimicrobial resistance scourge affects humans, animals, plants, and the environment. It is estimated that 10 million people would die annually by the year 2050, and the economies of nations negatively affected if this challenge is not mitigated.”
He insisted that: “It is therefore important for countries to put in place actions that will reduce and control this scourge.”
Dominique added that: “Antimicrobial resistance which is a One Health issue needs to be tackled by all sectors. It is for this reason that the FAO in 2022 supported the Federal Ministry of Environment to develop the National AMR Policy and the National Strategic Plan (2023 – 2027). This support was also to assist in enhancing the capacity and capabilities of the environment sector to participate actively in development and implementation of multi-sectoral and inter-disciplinary AMR control plans at the national and subnational levels.”
FG Launches the National Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Policy for Environment Sector
News
Troops detect, detonate IED along Ngoshe–Pulka road in Borno
Troops detect, detonate IED along Ngoshe–Pulka road in Borno
By: Zagazola Makama
Troops of the Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) team of 82 Division Task Force Battalion have successfully detected and detonated an improvised explosive device (IED) along a major supply route in Gwoza LGA of Borno State.
Security sources said the device was discovered at about 9:42 a.m. on March 22 during a routine scan of the Main Supply Route (MSR) between PAPA 4 and PAPA 5 along the Ngoshe–Pulka road.

The IED, suspected to have been planted by terrorists to target troops and commuters, was safely recovered and detonated in situ by the EOD team without causing any casualties.
Military sources said the operation was part of ongoing counter-IED measures aimed at ensuring the safety of movement along critical routes in the North-East.
Residents and road users have been urged to remain vigilant and report any suspicious objects or activities to security agencies for prompt action.
Troops detect, detonate IED along Ngoshe–Pulka road in Borno
News
ISWAP cleric threatens attack on Malam Fatori, after humiliating defeat, troops urged to remain alert
ISWAP cleric threatens attack on Malam Fatori, after humiliating defeat, troops urged to remain alert
By: Zagazola Makama
A suspected ISWAP cleric has issued threats of a possible attack on Malam Fatori following the recent neutralization of 75 terrorists in a failed attack on March 18 2026.
According to intelligence sources, the cleric, who reportedly led this year Eid Fitr prayers in a location near Sabon Tumbu, warned during his sermon that the group would soon retaliate against Nigerian troops for operations carried out in Malam Fatori.
The source said the cleric specifically threatened that the town could be “reduced to ashes” in a reprisal attack, stressing that such statements by insurgents should not be dismissed as mere rhetoric.
Sources noted that past experiences have shown that insurgent groups often act on their threats, urging troops deployed in Malam Fatori to remain on high alert and adequately equipped to counter any potential assault.
They also warned that the insurgents could deploy heavy firepower and adopt tactics such as coordinated assaults and the use of vehicle-borne explosive devices in any attempted attack.
Malam Fatori has for long been described as the town as a long-standing stronghold of military resistance against terrorist elements. The town has, over the years, witnessed decisive military victories against ISWAP fighters, nick named the “Grave Yard of ISWAP” and earning a REPUTATION as a difficult terrain for insurgents to operate.
The troops of the Armed Forces, supported by other security agencies, remain on high alert and have continued to fortify defensive positions in anticipation of any attempted incursion.
According to the sources, intelligence and surveillance have been intensified, while logistics and operational readiness have been enhanced to ensure that any threat is decisively neutralised.
“Experience has shown that insurgents often suffer heavy losses whenever they attempt to attack well-defended positions like Malam Fatori,” the source said.
ISWAP cleric threatens attack on Malam Fatori, after humiliating defeat, troops urged to remain alert
News
Baban Chinedu says Pastor Ezekiel Dachomo is a former Armed robber now turned crises entrepreneur
Baban Chinedu says Pastor Ezekiel Dachomo is a former Armed robber now turned crises entrepreneur
By: Zagazola Makama
Sheikh Yusuf Haruna Baban Chinedu, popularly known as Baban Chinedu, has launched a scathing and evidence-based attack on controversial Plateau pastor Ezekiel Dachomo in a viral video, accusing him of being a former armed robber and a liar who fabricated stories about meeting Jesus after a 1980 bank robbery in Jos.
Baban Chinedu declared: “Ezekiel Dachomo isn’t just someone seen in a photo with a bandit; no, he is the bandit! … Ezekiel committed armed robbery. We have records on him from 1976, from ’76 to sometime after 2000. … This man is a hardened armed robber.”
He played a clip of Dachomo admitting: “Because I went in 1980 is our gang that robbed a bank in Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria. 1980, they make away with a lot of money. It was my best friend that led the operation.” Baban Chinedu challenged: “Praise be to God, I hope you all heard the statement this man made. … He is lying! I want you to listen and know that first of all, this man is a complete hypocrite and a total liar. I swear, it was a gun that shot them! Angels? He claims Jesus came down with seven angels who struck them and killed fourteen people while he hid in the blood? You see, even the angels God sent down… only managed to kill fourteen people and lost track of where that one man was?”
The sheikh alleged Dachomo hid among corpses and was rescued by a gang member named Emmanuel, not Jesus: “He was begging Jesus for God’s sake to forgive him and spare his life. He claims that was where he met Jesus… By Allah, he is lying! … It was a gun that shot them! No Jesus descended there; he is lying to you.” He added: “A lady told me; she heard him when he was shot, and he still has the scar from that wound on his left side. … He is lying! At that time, it was the police, Nigerian security agents, Nigeria Police MOPOL who she said shot them.”
Baban Chinedu accused Dachomo of transitioning from “practical, street-level bandit” to “spiritual bandit” and inciting religious conflict: “The armed bandits of the past are the ones who transformed into these kidnappers. … All those who are making these plans are your boys… You’re insulting her religion, she told us the truth about everything that happened… You are a robber, and the government should investigate you; you’re behind all of this.”
He challenged Dachomo to court: “Ezekiel, I, Yusuf Haruna Baban Chinedu, challenge you: if you know there’s any falsehood in what’s being said about you, take it to court.” The sheikh demanded investigation: “We want the government if possible to investigate this man, I swear to God he’s an armed robber… By Allah, the government should know that Ezekiel is involved in this. Let him tell you the names of those he robbed with.”
The viral video has ignited fierce online reactions, with many praising Baban Chinedu’s evidence-based approach while others condemn the personal attacks on Dachomo, intensifying Nigeria’s ongoing religious and ethnic tensions occasioned by US recent remarks on Christians genocide propaganda. Watch the video in the comment section.
Baban Chinedu says Pastor Ezekiel Dachomo is a former Armed robber now turned crises entrepreneur
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