One health put into practice?: an analysis of the Nigerian antimicrobial resistance policy, strategies and practices

Background: Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) is a global health crisis that threatens the effective prevention and treatment of infections and ultimately affecting the overall wellbeing, with the Western sub Saharan Africa mostly affected. Nigeria, like many other countries, has adopted the OH approach to address AMR. This study examines the alignment of Nigeria’s AMR policy strategies and practices with OH principles.Method: This study employed a qualitative approach, analyzing policy documents, peer-reviewed articles retrieved from data sources like PubMed, Science-Direct, Scopus, and Google scholar, and reports from governmental and non-governmental organizations. The sources handpicked for this study was based on PRISMA criteria. The search yielded about 2106 studies, of which 82 studies were retained for analysis. Additionally, interviews were conducted with key stakeholders knowledgeable about AMR initiatives in Nigeria. Result: The findings reveal the current AMR trends in the environmental, animal and human sectors in Nigeria. Furthermore, while Nigeria’s NAP on AMR follows the GAP and incorporates OH principles, there are significant gaps in implementation. Key issues include the lack of continuous cross-sectoral collaboration, inadequate data sharing between sectors, and the exclusion of key sectors in AMR mitigation strategies. However, good and promising mitigating practices and strategies were also identified in the study.Conclusion: The study emphasizes the need for continuous, sustained collaboration across all sectors to effectively combat AMR in Nigeria, rather than relying on periodic or event-driven efforts. A more coordinated approach involving all relevant sectors is essential. This includes improved data and knowledge sharing, consistent application of OH principles – collaboration, coordination, communication and efficiency-, and stronger governmental commitment to AMR strategies. Additionally, there is a pressing need for government-sanctioned research in Nigeria to address gaps in missing information in order to provide a more robust perception of AMR issue.