Di National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, don warn say banned pesticides wey still dey circulate and how people dey misuse am for Nigeria na serious threat to public health. Di agency raise concern after dem detect pesticide residues wey pass permitted safety limits inside some samples of beans.
NAFDAC talk say dem seize banned agrochemicals wey worth more than ₦800 million for Ogun, Ondo, Osun and Oyo states in 2025. Anoda operation for Kebbi State lead to interception of 67,428 litres of paraquat, one prohibited pesticide, plus banned atrazine products.
Di agency also reveal say one recent market study detect residues of pyrethroids and dimethoate above permitted safety limits for some bean samples. Dis one show concern about how agricultural chemicals dey used to preserve harvested produce.
Di Director-General of NAFDAC, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, raise di alarm for media briefing on pesticide use in agricultural produce for Lagos. She talk say di agency dey intensify surveillance, enforcement and public education to remove banned, unregistered, falsified and improperly used pesticides from Nigerian market.
‘NAFDAC no dey against responsible use of pesticides. Rather, di agency want make sure say pesticides wey dem sell or use for Nigeria safe, approved and comply with regulatory requirements,’ Adeyeye talk.
She warn say although pesticides important for crop protection and agricultural production, improper application, excessive use and failure to observe prescribed waiting periods before harvest fit expose farmers, consumers and environment to harmful chemicals.
‘Improper pesticide use fit cause serious health problems, including death. Some effects no dey show immediately but dem fit develop gradually over time,’ she talk.
Adeyeye explain say di agency concern pass illegal importation and sale of prohibited chemicals. E also reach misuse of approved pesticides wey fit leave dangerous residues on food wey Nigerians dey chop.
Di NAFDAC boss talk say di recent market study on beans show residues of pyrethroids and dimethoate wey exceed applicable safety limits for some samples. She explain say dimethoate no be approved for preserving harvested beans against pests like weevils. Chemicals wey dem approve for use on crops for field no mean say dem fit automatically use am for post-harvest preservation.
While some pyrethroids dey permitted for post-harvest storage under approved conditions, Adeyeye talk say users must observe di prescribed withholding period before dem consume di produce.
She list common pesticide misuse practices: applying chemicals pass recommended levels, using products on crops or against pests wey dem no approve for, harvesting before required pre-harvest interval, and mixing products improperly. Oda dangerous practices na storing pesticides with food, animal feed or household items, reusing empty pesticide containers for domestic purposes, and improperly disposing chemical residues and containers.
‘Food safety begins on di farm,’ Adeyeye talk. She urge farmers to buy approved products, follow label instructions, apply recommended quantities and observe all safety precautions. She talk say protecting Nigerians from harmful pesticide residues need responsible practices across agricultural value chain, from manufacturers and importers to distributors, agro-input dealers and farmers.
Giving details of enforcement operations, Adeyeye talk say NAFDAC seize banned agrochemicals wey worth more than N800 million for Ogun, Ondo, Osun and Oyo states in 2025. Between September 2024 and July 2026, enforcement operations for North-West Zone lead to seizure, interception or recovery of 2,974 cartons of pesticides containing paraquat, with estimated value of N148.7 million. Anoda 120 cartons of pesticides containing chlorpyrifos, valued at more than N17 million, dem intercept during same period.
For separate operation for Kebbi State, di agency intercept 5,619 cartons containing 67,428 litres of paraquat and 500 cartons of atrazine products. NAFDAC also seal four unauthorised pesticide and agrochemical manufacturing facilities for Bichi, Kano State, in July 2026, where officers reportedly discover unlabelled products, bulk chemicals and packaging materials linked to illicit production.
Adeyeye talk say suspects don dey arrested in connection with enforcement operations, with one case undergoing prosecution. She attribute continued circulation of prohibited pesticides partly to illegal importation and movement across Nigeria’s borders. She note say products wey banned for di country fit enter through neighbouring countries and unauthorised supply channels.
‘These interceptions after di effective date of di ban indicate say di challenge extend beyond residual stocks to illegal importation, unauthorised local production and distribution,’ she talk.
Adeyeye disclose say di phase-out periods for pesticides containing paraquat, chlorpyrifos and atrazine end on January 1, 2026. She talk say di chemicals no fit legally dey manufactured, imported, distributed, sold or used for Nigeria under di agency completed regulatory measures. According to her, NAFDAC review registered pesticide active ingredients in 2022 using scientific evidence, im Automated Product Administration and Monitoring System database, and input from relevant experts and stakeholders. Di review consider risks to human health and environment, applicable national regulations and international requirements.
Adeyeye also disclose say NAFDAC restrict di 100ml pack size of dichlorvos, prohibiting im importation, manufacture and open-market or supermarket sale following concerns about misuse on agricultural produce and im use in suicide. Oda permitted pack sizes, she talk, remain subject to applicable regulatory controls.
Di Director-General talk say di agency dey strengthen collaboration with government institutions and law enforcement authorities to identify, seize and remove illegal pesticides from circulation and prosecute offenders where applicable. ‘No business interest or desire for profit go justify illegal importation, distribution or sale of banned or non-compliant pesticides,’ she talk.
To reduce risks associated with improper pesticide use, Adeyeye talk say NAFDAC don train more than 2,000 agro-input dealers on responsible handling and application of agricultural chemicals. She talk say di agency dey also expand im investigation and enforcement zonal offices from three to six to improve regulatory coverage across di country. Oda measures include registration and scientific assessment of pesticide products before market entry, inspection of manufacturing and storage facilities, border checks, market surveillance, laboratory testing and enforcement against businesses wey dey involved in illegal production and distribution.
Adeyeye add say NAFDAC provide free interim testing for export products to encourage compliance with applicable safety standards and prevent consignments from being rejected for destination countries because of pesticide residues or oda regulatory violations. She urge manufacturers and importers to make sure their products meet regulatory requirements, while distributors and agro-input dealers suppose obtain pesticides only through legitimate channels. Farmers also suppose buy from recognised agro-input dealers, read and follow product labels, use only recommended quantities and observe prescribed waiting periods before harvesting.
Deputy Director of Veterinary Medicine and Allied Products at NAFDAC, Dr. Idayat Mudshiru, talk say sustained engagement with farmers and oda stakeholders remain critical to preventing pesticide misuse. ‘NAFDAC continues to engage farmers and relevant stakeholders on responsible use and application of pesticide products,’ Mudshiru talk. She talk say di agency dey work with industry stakeholders, including CropLife, to strengthen public awareness and promote safe pesticide handling and application. ‘The advocacy and education efforts are ongoing,’ she talk, noting say continued collaboration dey needed to protect consumers and environment.
