The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has raised the alarm over the illegal movement and distribution of banned and unregistered pesticides across Nigeria’s borders, warning that the circulation of unsafe agrochemicals poses serious risks to public health, food safety and the environment.
The agency said it has intensified surveillance and enforcement operations to disrupt illegal pesticide supply chains and prevent prohibited chemicals from entering the Nigerian market through neighbouring countries and unauthorised routes.
NAFDAC Steps Up Enforcement
NAFDAC Director-General, Professor Mojisola Adeyeye, said the agency's intensified operations were aimed at removing banned, unregistered, falsified and substandard pesticides from circulation.
The agency's warning comes amid evidence that prohibited chemicals are still being intercepted in different parts of the country despite regulatory measures banning their use.
NAFDAC disclosed that it seized banned agrochemicals worth more than ₦800 million across Ogun, Ondo, Osun and Oyo states in 2025.
The agency also reported that enforcement operations in the North-West between September 2024 and July 2026 resulted in the seizure, interception or recovery of 2,974 cartons of paraquat-based pesticides, estimated at about ₦148.7 million.
Another 120 cartons of chlorpyrifos-based pesticides, valued at more than ₦17 million, were also intercepted.
In a separate operation in Kebbi State, NAFDAC intercepted 5,619 cartons containing 67,428 litres of paraquat, as well as 500 cartons of atrazine-based products.
Banned Chemicals Still Entering the Market
NAFDAC said the continued discovery of banned pesticides after the expiration of their phase-out periods indicates that the problem goes beyond old stock remaining in circulation.
According to the agency, illegal importation, unauthorised local production and distribution networks are contributing to the continued availability of the prohibited chemicals.
The phase-out periods for pesticides containing paraquat, chlorpyrifos and atrazine ended by January 1, 2026. NAFDAC said the substances can no longer legally be manufactured, imported, distributed, sold or used in Nigeria under the completed regulatory measures.
NAFDAC's pesticide regulations also generally require pesticides manufactured, imported, advertised, sold, distributed or used in Nigeria to be registered with the agency, subject to specified regulatory exceptions.
Illegal Agrochemical Factories Discovered
The agency said its enforcement efforts have also uncovered unauthorised local production.
NAFDAC sealed four unauthorised pesticide and agrochemical manufacturing facilities in Bichi, Kano State, during enforcement operations. Officers reportedly found unlabelled products, bulk chemicals and packaging materials linked to illicit production.
The agency said it was working with security and law-enforcement authorities to disrupt illegal supply networks and prosecute those responsible.
Health Risks and Food Safety Concerns
NAFDAC stressed that the problem is not limited to the illegal importation and sale of banned chemicals. Improper use of even approved pesticides can expose consumers to dangerous residues.
The agency recently reported detecting pyrethroid and dimethoate residues above permitted safety limits in some bean samples.
Adeyeye warned that excessive application of pesticides, using chemicals on crops for which they are not approved, harvesting before the required waiting period and improperly mixing products can increase risks to consumers and farmers.
NAFDAC also warned against storing pesticides alongside food or animal feed, reusing empty pesticide containers for domestic purposes and improperly disposing of pesticide residues and containers.
The agency said some health effects from exposure to unsafe pesticides may not become apparent immediately but can develop over time.
NAFDAC Urges Farmers to Buy Approved Products
NAFDAC said it is not opposed to the responsible use of pesticides, which remain important tools for crop protection and agricultural production.
However, the agency urged farmers and agro-input dealers to obtain pesticides only through legitimate channels and ensure that products are properly registered and approved.
Farmers were advised to:
• Purchase pesticides from recognised agro-input dealers.
• Check product labels before use.
• Follow recommended application rates.
• Use chemicals only on approved crops and for approved purposes.
• Observe prescribed pre-harvest waiting periods.
• Avoid mixing pesticides improperly.
• Store pesticides safely away from food and animal feed.
• Dispose of pesticide containers and chemical residues properly.
The agency said it has trained more than 2,000 agro-input dealers on the responsible handling and application of agricultural chemicals. It is also expanding its investigation and enforcement zonal offices from three to six to improve regulatory coverage across Nigeria.
NAFDAC Targets Illegal Supply Chains
The agency said its enforcement strategy includes border checks, market surveillance, laboratory testing, inspection of manufacturing and storage facilities, scientific assessment of pesticide products and action against businesses involved in illegal production and distribution.
NAFDAC also said it was strengthening cooperation with other government institutions, security agencies and industry stakeholders to identify and remove illegal pesticides from circulation.
The agency's broader objective is to prevent unsafe chemicals from reaching farms and, ultimately, the food consumed by Nigerians.
NAFDAC said protecting food safety requires cooperation across the agricultural value chain, including manufacturers, importers, distributors, agro-input dealers and farmers.
The agency urged businesses involved in the pesticide trade to comply with regulatory requirements and warned that commercial interests would not justify the illegal importation, sale or distribution of banned or non-compliant agrochemicals.
