A doctoral study at Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, has raised alarm over rising antimicrobial resistance in Kebbi State, linking the spread of drug-resistant bacteria between animals and humans to widespread misuse of antibiotics.
The research, conducted by Dr Gaddafi Muhammed Sani of the Department of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, identified dangerous strains of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) circulating among livestock and humans in the state.
“Between 2018 and 2021, I conducted the first molecular study on MRSA in livestock and people in Kebbi,” Dr Sani said. “We found that many bacterial isolates were resistant to more than 40 per cent of tested antibiotics, showing clear evidence of misuse.”
The findings revealed that daily contact between animals, farm workers and veterinarians is fuelling cross-infection, aggravated by poor hygiene and unregulated drug use.
Dr Sani warned that Kebbi’s growing livestock and poultry industries could face a public health crisis if antibiotic resistance remains unchecked. “If resistant bacteria enter the food chain, they could spread to markets, hospitals and homes,” he said. He urged authorities to strengthen Nigeria’s One Health strategy, enforce veterinary drug regulations and promote safer farming practices to curb the threat.
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