Antimicrobial use practices, resistance drivers and policy responses in Nigerian livestock production from a One Health perspective

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) represents a critical global public health challenge that compromises the treatment of infectious diseases in humans and animals while threatening food security and environmental sustainability. In Nigeria, livestock farming is central to livelihoods and nutrition, yet increasing dependence on antimicrobials for disease prevention, metaphylaxis, and productivity has intensified concerns about inappropriate antimicrobial use. Weak regulatory enforcement, limited access to veterinary and diagnostic services, widespread over the counter availability of antibiotics, and low awareness among farmers contribute to practices that select for resistant bacterial populations and heighten the risk of zoonotic transmission at the human animal environmental interface. This narrative review synthesized evidence published between 2000 and 2025 from PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar, alongside relevant policy documents and knowledge, attitudes, and practices studies, using structured search terms combining Nigeria, antimicrobial resistance, antibiotic use, and livestock species. Evidence was thematically analyzed across governance and regulation, veterinary and diagnostic capacity, farmer practices, surveillance systems, environmental pathways, and alternatives to antimicrobial use such as vaccination and biosecurity. The review integrates Nigerian livestock production realities with global AMR evidence through a One Health perspective, highlighting key drivers, documented resistance patterns, and policy and implementation gaps. The findings identify actionable pathways for strengthening stewardship, surveillance, farmer education, and regulatory oversight to preserve antimicrobial effectiveness, protect public health, and support the sustainability of livestock based livelihoods in Nigeria.