NAFDAC RAISES ALARM OVER SMUGGLING OF BANNED PESTICIDES INTO NIGERIA

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has raised an alarm over the illegal importation and smuggling of banned and falsified pesticides into Nigeria through national borders.

Speaking at a media briefing, NAFDAC Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, warned that the widespread availability of prohibited agrochemicals poses severe health risks to consumers and threatens Nigeria’s agricultural exports.

CRACKDOWN ON PROHIBITED AGROCHEMICALS

The regulatory authority disclosed that recent market surveys and laboratory tests revealed unsafe chemical residues—particularly in food staples such as beans—linked to the misuse of unauthorized pesticides.

• Major Seizures Nationwide: NAFDAC operatives intercepted illegal agrochemicals valued at over ₦800 million across multiple states, including Ogun, Ondo, Osun, Oyo, and Kebbi.

• Prohibited Substances Targeted: Enforcement operations focused on banned active ingredients, including Paraquat, Chlorpyrifos, and Atrazine, along with restricted pack sizes of Dichlorvos.

• Illegal Factories Sealed: The agency shut down unauthorized manufacturing and packaging facilities in Kano State involved in producing unlabeled and counterfeit agrochemicals.

ENFORCEMENT AND PUBLIC SAFETY DIRECTIVES

NAFDAC emphasized that no commercial interests justify the sale or importation of banned chemicals, confirming that offenders will face strict prosecution.

To protect public health, the agency has trained over 2,000 agro-input dealers nationwide and expanded its zonal enforcement offices to intercept illegal shipments before reaching open markets. Farmers and agricultural distributors are urged to purchase inputs exclusively from certified vendors and adhere strictly to authorized application guidelines.