The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has warned that banned pesticides remain in circulation in Nigeria despite the expiration of their phase-out periods, raising concerns about illegal agrochemical sales and food safety.
Mojisola Adeyeye, director-general of NAFDAC, said enforcement operations had uncovered prohibited pesticides, including paraquat, chlorpyrifos and atrazine, even though the applicable phase-out periods ended on January 1, 2026.
In a statement dated October 9, Adeyeye said the agency seized banned agrochemicals worth more than N800 million across Ogun, Ondo, Osun and Oyo states in 2025.
Between September 2024 and July 2026, enforcement operations in the North-West zone also resulted in the seizure or interception of 2,974 cartons of pesticides containing banned paraquat, valued at approximately N148.7 million. Suspects were arrested, with one facing prosecution, she said.
NAFDAC also seized 120 cartons of pesticides containing chlorpyrifos worth more than N17 million during the period.
In a more recent operation in Kebbi State, the agency intercepted 5,619 cartons, equivalent to 67,428 litres, of banned paraquat and 500 cartons, equivalent to 5,000kg, of atrazine.
Adeyeye said the discoveries suggested that the problem extended beyond the sale of old stock to possible illegal imports, unauthorised local production and distribution.
The agency also reported intercepting packaging materials intended for the illicit manufacture of pesticides at Malam Aminu Kano International Airport. In July 2026, it sealed four unauthorised agrochemical and pesticide manufacturing facilities in Bichi, Kano State, where officers found unlabelled products, bulk materials and packaging materials linked to illegal production.
NAFDAC said it was strengthening collaboration with government institutions and law enforcement agencies to improve intelligence-sharing, monitor pesticide distribution and prosecute offenders.
The agency reviewed pesticide active ingredients registered in Nigeria in 2022, using its product database, scientific evidence and expert input to assess risks to human health and the environment. It said restrictions, phase-outs or prohibitions were introduced where risks could not be adequately controlled or safer alternatives were available.
Adeyeye also warned that food safety risks could arise from the misuse of approved pesticides, not only from banned products.
She cited a recent market study on beans that found pesticide residues, including pyrethroids and dimethoate, exceeding safe limits.
Although dimethoate is accepted for certain field applications internationally, NAFDAC said it was not approved or effective for preserving harvested beans against pests such as weevils. Pyrethroids may be permitted for post-harvest storage, but users must follow approved instructions and observe the required waiting period before consumption.
The agency said improper pesticide use included applying excessive quantities, using products on crops for which they were not approved, harvesting before the recommended waiting period, mixing chemicals incorrectly and storing pesticides near food or animal feed.
It warned that such practices could expose farmers, farm workers and consumers to harmful substances and damage the environment.
“Food safety starts at the farm,” Adeyeye said, urging farmers to buy approved pesticides from listed agro-input dealers and follow product label instructions.
She said NAFDAC was also expanding its investigation and enforcement zonal offices from three to six to cover Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones. More than 2,000 agro-input dealers had received training on identifying genuine products and understanding the risks associated with unapproved pesticides, she added.
The agency called on manufacturers and importers to comply with registration requirements, distributors to source products through legitimate channels and consumers to report suspected illegal or unsafe pesticides through its offices or official reporting channels.
NAFDAC said protecting public health and supporting agriculture were complementary goals, adding that safe pesticide use was important to maintaining food quality and ensuring Nigerian agricultural products met domestic and international market requirements.
