• Warns of infertility, birth defects, cancer from pesticide misuse
• Offers free testing to protect consumers, avert export losses

National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has intercepted prohibited agrochemicals worth over N800 million in Ogun, Ondo, Osun and Oyo states.

Separate enforcement operations in Kebbi and Kano states uncovered additional consignments of banned pesticides and unauthorised manufacturing facilities, raising concerns about the continued circulation of hazardous agricultural chemicals in Nigeria.

Despite regulatory restrictions, banned pesticides continue to enter the country’s agricultural supply chain through smuggling, unauthorised local manufacturing and informal distribution channels.

NAFDAC warned that misuse of certain pesticides could cause infertility, birth defects, cancer and neurological complications, with some effects taking years to manifest.

Beyond the immediate health risks, excessive pesticide residues in agricultural produce could compromise food safety and expose Nigerian exporters to rejected consignments, financial losses and difficulties meeting international market requirements.

The agency’s concerns extend to both the use of prohibited products and the misuse of otherwise approved chemicals.

According to NAFDAC, applying pesticides at rates above the recommended levels, using them on crops for which they are not approved, and harvesting before the prescribed waiting period could expose consumers to unsafe residues.

Speaking at a press conference at NAFDAC’s office in Isolo, Lagos, over the weekend, the agency’s Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, warned that improper handling and application of pesticides could have severe health consequences, including cancer and heart failure.

Adeyeye urged farmers to follow product label instructions, apply only the recommended quantities, and wear appropriate protective equipment when handling agricultural chemicals.

She cautioned against assuming that applying more pesticides would yield better results and advised users who could not read product labels to seek assistance.

She also identified paraquat, chlorpyrifos and atrazine among the banned pesticide active ingredients still circulating through illegal channels.

The agency said all applicable phase-out periods under its regulatory measures ended on January 1, 2026, meaning products containing the prohibited ingredients could no longer be legally manufactured, imported, distributed, sold, or used in Nigeria.

The DG disclosed that enforcement operations between September 2024 and July 2026 in the North-West Zone resulted in the seizure, interception, or recovery of 2,974 cartons of pesticides containing the banned pesticide paraquat, valued at N148.7 million.

Another 120 cartons containing chlorpyrifos, worth over N17 million, were seized during the period.

In a separate operation in Kebbi State, Adeyeye noted that the agency intercepted 5,619 cartons, equivalent to 67,428 litres, of banned paraquat and 500 cartons, equivalent to 500 kilogrammes, of atrazine. She added that four unauthorised agrochemical manufacturing facilities were also sealed in Bichi, Kano State, in July 2026.

To reduce export losses, the agency said testing of food and other products intended for export was being offered free of charge on an interim basis.

Exporters were urged to submit their products for testing prior to shipment to ensure compliance with applicable safety requirements.

NAFDAC also said it was expanding its investigation and enforcement zonal offices from three to six and had trained more than 2,000 agro-input dealers to identify genuine products and recognise the risks associated with counterfeit and unapproved pesticides.