Stakeholder perceptions of antimicrobial resistance governance in livestock production: a cross-sectional study from North-Central Nigeria

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in food animal production poses a significant public health and agricultural challenge in Nigeria, driven by antimicrobial misuse, weak regulatory enforcement, and limited veterinary infrastructure. This cross-sectional study was conducted January-July 2025 across seven North-Central Nigerian states, assessed self-reported awareness, self-rated knowledge, perceptions, and implementation of AMR interventions among 800 stakeholders across five professional groups. Data were collected via online and in-person questionnaires and analysed descriptively with chi-square tests. Awareness of AMR was high (90.5%; n = 724), with 95.4% ( n = 763) recognising it as a public health concern; however, only 17.9% ( n = 143) self-rated their knowledge as excellent, significantly associated with profession (χ²=12.52, df = 12, p = 0.01) and education level (χ²=10.27, df = 9, p = 0.02). The most frequently perceived drivers of AMR were poor biosecurity (75.5%), weak veterinary oversight (75.0%), counterfeit drugs (73.9%), and antimicrobial overuse (72.9%), all varying significantly by profession (χ²=6.81–10.69, df = 4, p < 0.05). Education/awareness campaigns were most frequently selected as the most effective intervention (24.4%), with intervention rankings differing significantly by profession (χ²=13.62, df = 16, p < 0.01) and state (χ²=21.02, df = 24, p < 0.01). Awareness of the Federal AMR Committee varied markedly by profession (57.9% overall; χ²=167.36, df = 4, p < 0.001), highest among veterinarians (89.0%). Overall, 60.5% ( n = 484) considered current regulations insufficient, differing significantly by profession (χ²=5.03, df = 8, p = 0.01). These findings suggest that while national-level AMR governance structures are recognised and valued, their perceived impact is limited by gaps in sub-national capacity and implementation. Strengthening local-level resources, regulatory enforcement, and targeted training may help translate policy into practice, addressing gaps in awareness, knowledge, and implementation capacity.