NOA Raises Alarm as Misuse of Medicines Accelerates Antimicrobial Resistance in Nigeria
18th November, 2025
The National Orientation Agency (NOA) in Ondo State has intensified public sensitization efforts as health authorities warn that Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) is emerging as one of the most urgent threats to global and national health.
Speaking as part of activities marking the 2025 World Antimicrobial Awareness Week (November 18–24), the State Director of NOA, Mr. James Adekunle, cautioned residents about the escalating danger posed by the misuse and overuse of antimicrobial drugs.
In a statement signed by the Agency’s Public Relations Officer, Ralph Oguntibeju, NOA noted that AMR is advancing at an alarming pace worldwide, with Nigeria increasingly affected as common medications lose effectiveness against infections.
Mr. Adekunle explained that AMR develops when disease-causing organisms—such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites—no longer respond to drugs designed to eliminate them. This resistance, he said, makes routine infections harder to treat and increases the risk of severe illness or death.
The director warned that indiscriminate use of antibiotics, antimalarials, and other medications contributes significantly to the crisis. He emphasized the consequences, including prolonged sickness, higher healthcare costs, complications during surgeries and childbirth, and the rapid spread of resistant infections within households and communities.
To slow the growing threat, NOA urged Nigerians to avoid taking antibiotics without a doctor’s prescription, always complete their prescribed medication doses, avoid sharing drugs, and stop buying medicines from unlicensed vendors. The Agency further encouraged the public to maintain proper hygiene, keep vaccinations up to date, and immediately report suspected misuse or counterfeit drugs to relevant authorities.
Reiterating NOA’s commitment to sustained public education, Mr. Adekunle appealed to citizens to use medicines responsibly and work together to protect the country’s health security.
