By Faridat Salifu
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) on Friday, raised concerns over pesticide residues exceeding permitted safety limits in some samples of beans, warning that the misuse of agricultural chemicals could expose Nigerians to serious health risks.
The agency also disclosed that it seized banned agrochemicals worth more than ₦800 million in Ogun, Ondo, Osun and Oyo states in 2025, as part of efforts to curb the illegal circulation and misuse of prohibited pesticides across the country.
NAFDAC Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, raised the concerns at a media briefing on pesticide use in agricultural produce in Lagos, where she said the agency was strengthening surveillance, enforcement and public education to protect consumers and the environment.
According to Adeyeye, a recent market study detected residues of pyrethroids and dimethoate above applicable safety limits in some bean samples.
She explained that dimethoate was not approved for preserving harvested beans against pests such as weevils, stressing that pesticides authorised for use on crops in the field could not automatically be used to preserve harvested produce.
Although certain pyrethroids are permitted for post-harvest storage under approved conditions, she said users must comply with prescribed waiting periods before the produce is consumed.
“NAFDAC is not against the responsible use of pesticides. Rather, the agency seeks to ensure that pesticides sold or used in Nigeria are safe, approved and compliant with regulatory requirements,” Adeyeye said.
She warned that excessive pesticide application, failure to observe recommended waiting periods before harvesting and the use of chemicals on crops for which they were not approved could leave harmful residues on food.
“Improper pesticide use can cause serious health problems, including death. Some effects may not appear immediately but can develop gradually over time,” she said.
Adeyeye said the agency’s concerns extended beyond the illegal importation and sale of prohibited chemicals to the misuse of approved pesticides, which could leave dangerous residues on food consumed by Nigerians.
Other unsafe practices identified by the agency include mixing pesticides improperly, storing chemicals alongside food, animal feed or household items, reusing empty pesticide containers for domestic purposes and improperly disposing of chemical residues and containers.
“Food safety begins on the farm,” Adeyeye said, urging farmers to purchase approved products, follow label instructions, apply recommended quantities and observe prescribed safety precautions.
Giving details of its enforcement activities, the NAFDAC chief said operations in the North-West Zone between September 2024 and July 2026 resulted in the seizure, interception or recovery of 2,974 cartons of pesticides containing paraquat, valued at an estimated ₦148.7 million.
The agency also intercepted 120 cartons of pesticides containing chlorpyrifos, valued at more than ₦17 million, during the same period.
In a separate operation in Kebbi State, officers intercepted 5,619 cartons containing 67,428 litres of paraquat and 500 cartons of atrazine products.
Adeyeye further disclosed that NAFDAC sealed four unauthorised pesticide and agrochemical manufacturing facilities in Bichi, Kano State, in July 2026. Officers reportedly discovered unlabelled products, bulk chemicals and packaging materials linked to illicit production.
She said suspects had been arrested in connection with enforcement operations, with one case undergoing prosecution.
According to the agency, the phase-out periods for pesticides containing paraquat, chlorpyrifos and atrazine ended on January 1, 2026, meaning the chemicals could no longer legally be manufactured, imported, distributed, sold or used in Nigeria under the completed regulatory measures.
Adeyeye attributed the continued circulation of prohibited pesticides partly to illegal importation, unauthorised local production and distribution through channels that bypass regulatory controls.
“These interceptions after the effective date of the ban indicate that the challenge extends beyond residual stocks to illegal importation, unauthorised local production and distribution,” she said.
She also disclosed that NAFDAC had restricted the 100ml pack size of dichlorvos, prohibiting its importation, manufacture and open-market or supermarket sale over concerns about its misuse on agricultural produce and its use in suicide. Other permitted pack sizes remain subject to applicable regulatory controls.
To strengthen compliance, Adeyeye said the agency had trained more than 2,000 agro-input dealers on the responsible handling and application of agricultural chemicals and was expanding its investigation and enforcement zonal offices from three to six.
She said other measures include scientific assessment and registration of pesticide products before market entry, inspection of manufacturing and storage facilities, border checks, market surveillance, laboratory testing and enforcement against businesses involved in illegal production and distribution.
The agency also provides free interim testing for export products to encourage compliance with safety standards and reduce the risk of consignments being rejected in destination countries because of pesticide residues or other regulatory violations.
Adeyeye urged manufacturers and importers to ensure that their products met regulatory requirements, while distributors and agro-input dealers were advised to source pesticides only through legitimate channels.
Farmers, she said, must purchase chemicals 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, said sustained engagement with farmers and other stakeholders remained critical to preventing pesticide misuse.
She said the agency was working with industry stakeholders, including CropLife, to strengthen public awareness and promote safe pesticide handling and application.
“The advocacy and education efforts are ongoing,” Mudshiru said, emphasising the need for continued collaboration to protect consumers and the environment.
NAFDAC said it would sustain enforcement, public education and stakeholder engagement to ensure agricultural chemicals were used in accordance with safety requirements and that food reaching Nigerian households met applicable standards.
