The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has warned Nigerians, particularly farmers, to avoid using banned pesticides on food products to safeguard public health.
The Director-General of NAFDAC, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, gave the warning at a news conference on NAFDAC’s enforcement activities on banned pesticides.
Adeyeye said the agency’s stronger focus on pesticide control recognised that pesticides were important for farming, but they must be used safely and according to approved instructions.
According to her, pesticides are essential tools for agricultural production, crop protection and the livelihoods of millions of Nigerians.
She said :”Humans depend on healthy farm to table systems, from the food we eat to the water we drink to the ecosystems that sustain life.
“NAFDAC is not against the responsible use of pesticides but rather, to ensure that pesticides sold or used in Nigeria are safe, approved and meet regulatory requirements.
“The improper use, abuse, misuse, illegal distribution or use of substandard, falsified or adulterated products poses significant risks to human health, animals, crops and the environment”.
The director-general said NAFDAC’s review of registered pesticide active ingredients in 2022 considered scientific evidence, risks to human health and the environment, national regulations and the availability of safer, effective alternatives.
She said that the phase-out period for banned pesticides like paraquat, chlorpyrifos, atrazine among other had already elapsed on Jan. 1, 2026, adding that the agency had commenced enforcement across the country.
The regulatory boss said that notwithstanding the ban, it’s investigation and enforcement operations continued to uncover banned pesticide products in circulation.
Adeyeye said the agency had restricted the 100-millilitre pack size of Dichlorvos (DDVP), prohibiting its importation, manufacture and open-market or supermarket sale following concerns about its misuse on some agricultural produce.
She stated further that other permitted pack sizes remained subject to applicable regulatory controls.
The D-G said NAFDAC enforcement operations in 2025 resulted in the seizure of banned agrochemicals worth more than N800 million in Ogun, Ondo, Osun and Oyo States.
Adeyeye added that between September 2024 and July 2026, enforcement operations in the North-West Zone led to the seizure of 2,974 cartons of pesticides containing banned paraquat, valued at approximately N148million.
The NAFDAC boss said 120 cartons of chlorpyrifos-containing pesticides worth more than N17million were also seized within the same period.
Still on its enforcement, Adeyeye disclosed that 5,619 cartons, equivalent to 67,428 litres, and 500 cartons, equivalent to 5,000kg, of banned paraquat and atrazine, respectively, were recently intercepted in Kebbi.
She said NAFDAC also sealed four unauthorised agrochemical and pesticide manufacturing facilities in Bichi, Kano State, in July, where officers found unlabelled products, bulk materials and packaging materials linked to illicit production.
According to her, the discoveries and seizures indicated that the challenge extended beyond residual stocks to illegal importation, unauthorised local production and distribution.
She said the agency was strengthening collaboration with relevant government institutions and law enforcement authorities to identify, seize and remove illegal products from the market and prosecute violators where applicable.
Adeyeye said the agency had also trained no fewer than 2,000 agro-input dealers to help them identify genuine products and understand the risks associated with counterfeit or unapproved pesticides.
The director-general added that NAFDAC was increasing its Investigation and Enforcement Zonal Offices from three to six to cover all six geopolitical zones.
She urged manufacturers and importers to comply with regulatory requirements, while distributors and agro-input dealers should source products through legitimate channels and avoid selling banned, unregistered or falsified pesticides.
Adeyeye also advised farmers to buy pesticides only from listed agro-input dealers, follow approved label instructions, use recommended quantities and observe the required waiting period before harvesting crops.
She reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to removing harmful and non-compliant products from the market and promoting responsible pesticide use to protect public health, agriculture and the environment.
