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The Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, recently raised fresh alarm over pesticide residues exceeding permissible limits in beans. Consequently, the NAFDAC boss warned farmers against the misuse of agrochemicals. She also reaffirmed the agency’s ban on pesticides containing paraquat, chlorpyrifos and atrazine.
Adeyeye revealed that a recent market study on beans detected residues of pyrethriods and dimethoates above permissible levels, stressing that the improper use of chemicals could compromise food safety and expose consumers to harmful chemical residues. “While dimethoates are globally accepted for treating crops in the field, it is neither approved nor effective for post-harvest preservation of beans from weevils,” NAFDAC DG said.
She maintained that the phase-out periods for banned chemicals under the agency’s completed regulatory measures ended on January 1, 2026. NAFDAC warned that henceforth, products containing paraquat, chlorpyrifos, and atrazine would no longer be manufactured, imported, distributed, sold or used in the country.
NAFDAC also restricted the distribution of the 100-millilitre pack of dichlorvos and banned its importation, manufacturing and sale in open market due to concerns about its misuse. It pointed out that the pack size had been linked to suicide cases, while other packs remained subject to applicable regulatory controls.
In a related development, NAFDAC had also seized banned agrochemicals worth more than N800million in Ogun, Ondo, Osun and Oyo states. The agency had in separate enforcement operations in Kebbi and Kano states found additional consignments of banned pesticides and unauthorised manufacturing facilities.
It also raised the alarm over the continued circulation of harmful agricultural chemicals in the country. The ugly development poses serious threat to public health. Similarly, NAFDAC recently uncovered suspected counterfeit drinks’ den in Trade Fair Complex, along Badagry Expressway, Ojo, Lagos State. It equally arrested two suspects allegedly involved in the illicit operation.
The alarm raised by NAFDAC over toxic pesticides in beans should be taken seriously. It should not be trivialised considering the danger posed to public health by continued misuse of agricultural chemicals. Farmers and businessmen should desist from abuse of these chemicals in treating beans and other food items sold in the market. Apart from posing danger to public health, the misuse of agrochemicals in beans preservation the earnings from the export of our agro-produce in international market.
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Last year, Nigeria reportedly lost over N543.75billion annually in foreign exchange due to the ban on export of beans. We recall that in 2025, the European Union (EU) banned the export of dried beans from Nigeria on account of high levels of harmful pesticide residues. EU said that excessive chemical residues found in Nigerian beans exceeded the permissible limits.
Experts say that misuse of agrochemicals such as improper application, lack of protective gear or storing chemicals in residential areas can cause severe risks to human health, food safety as well as the environment. They are of the view that accidental ingestion of paraquat can cause dizziness, vomiting, severe eye or skin irritation, respiratory distress or death. Long-term or repeated exposure is linked to serious conditions like cancers, Parkinson disease, asthma, hormone disruption and reproductive and developmental defects.
They said that keeping agrochemicals in living spaces or reusing empty pesticide containers to store food and drinking water leads to accidental household poisonings. The World Health Organisation (WHO) identifies the misuse of overuse of agricultural pesticides as a critical global public health threat, particularly in low-and middle-income countries.
The WHO says that pesticides are chemical compounds that are used to kill pests, including insects, rodents, fungi and unwanted weeds. Over 1,000 different pesticides are used around the world. Pesticides are used in public health to kill vectors of disease, such as mosquitoes, and in agriculture to kill pests that damage crops. At the same time, it warns that pesticides are potentially toxic to other organisms, including humans, and need to be used safely and disposed properly. The WHO also concludes that pesticides are among the leading causes of death by self-poisoning, adding that this burden is felt disproportionately in low- and middle-income countries.
Therefore, we urge NAFDAC to work with relevant authorities to stop the manufacture, distribution and sale of banned agrochemicals in the country. Since the agency is reportedly having shortage of manpower, the federal government should adequately fund the agency to enable it recruit the much-needed staff.
Moreover, let there be massive public enlightenment campaign on the misuse of agrochemicals as well as its public health concerns. The agency should also educate farmers and traders of agro produce on the safe use of agricultural pesticides. Apart from the states where the agency uncovered banned agrochemicals, it should beam its searchlight in other states of the country.
