Nigeria is taking significant steps to tackle antimicrobial resistance (AMR) through a groundbreaking research effort focused on replacing antibiotics used in livestock and aquaculture.
Scientists from Nigeria, the United Kingdom, and Spain are collaborating at the University of Ilorin to produce a safe, locally manufactured alternative for farmers across the country.
The initiative, known as the BAC4RumA project, is funded by Canada’s International Development Research Centre (IDRC) and the UK’s Global AMR Innovation Fund (GAMRIF). It aims to develop bacteriocin-rich extracts from engineered lactic acid bacteria as substitutes for antibiotics commonly used in ruminants and fish.
Project lead in Nigeria, Dr. Ismail Odetokun, said early laboratory findings show that the extracts are more effective than existing antibiotics in treating infections such as mastitis in cattle and bacterial diseases in fish.
He noted that the team is preparing to move the innovation into field trials, adding that farmers have already shown keen interest in adopting safer treatment options.
Highlighting the global threat of AMR, Dr. Najete Safini of IDRC described the challenge as a “silent pandemic” that undermines food production and public health.
She stressed the importance of strengthening domestic capacity, saying that solutions created within Nigeria will provide stronger protection for the nation’s food systems.
Dr. Mahmoud Eltholth of Royal Holloway University of London said the collaboration prioritizes sustainability by equipping Nigerian scientists and institutions to continue developing livestock health solutions locally rather than relying heavily on imports.
With livestock and aquaculture contributing more than ₦33 trillion to the Nigerian economy each year, experts say the research could secure millions of livelihoods while positioning Nigeria as a leading force in Africa’s response to antimicrobial resistance.
