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By Doris Obinna
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has seized banned agrochemicals worth over N800 million in Ogun, Ondo, Osun and Oyo states, warning that illegal pesticides threaten public health, food safety and Nigeria’s agricultural future.
The agency said enforcement operations in 2025 uncovered the products, while subsequent operations across the country resulted in further seizures and interceptions.
Director General, NAFDAC, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, on Friday, disclosed that between September 2024 and July 2026, enforcement operations in the North-West alone led to the seizure or interception of 2,974 cartons of pesticides containing banned paraquat, valued at about N148.7 million. Another 120 cartons of chlorpyrifos-containing pesticides, worth over N17 million, were seized within the same period.
In Kebbi State, more recent operations intercepted 5,619 cartons, equivalent to 67,428 litres, of banned paraquat and 500 cartons, equivalent to 5,000kg, of atrazine.
Adeyeye said the continued circulation of prohibited products after the expiration of their phase-out periods indicated persistent illegal importation, unauthorised production and distribution.
She explained that, as of January 1, 2026, all applicable phase-out periods under NAFDAC’s completed regulatory measures had ended, making the manufacture, importation, distribution, sale and use of affected products illegal.
The banned substances include paraquat, chlorpyrifos and atrazine. NAFDAC has also restricted the 100ml pack size of dichlorvos (DDVP), prohibiting its importation, manufacture and sale in open markets and supermarkets over concerns about its misuse on agricultural produce.
Adeyeye disclosed that the agency sealed four unauthorised agrochemical and pesticide manufacturing facilities in Bichi, Kano State, in July 2026. Officers reportedly found unlabeled products, bulk materials and packaging linked to illicit production.
She said NAFDAC was strengthening surveillance, border monitoring and collaboration with law enforcement agencies to dismantle illegal supply chains and sanction offenders.
The agency also warned that approved pesticides could contaminate food when improperly applied or when crops were harvested before the recommended waiting period.
Adeyeye cited a market study on beans that found pyrethroids and dimethoate residues exceeding safe limits. She said dimethoate was not approved for preserving harvested beans against pests such as weevils, stressing that pesticides must only be used for approved purposes and according to label instructions.
She urged farmers to buy approved products from legitimate agro-input dealers, apply the recommended quantities and observe the required intervals between spraying and harvesting.
Manufacturers, importers and distributors were also warned against producing or selling banned, falsified, unregistered or otherwise non-compliant products.
Adeyeye said more than 2,000 agro-input dealers had been trained to identify genuine pesticides and understand the risks associated with illegal products. NAFDAC is also expanding its investigation and enforcement zonal offices from three to six to strengthen coverage across Nigeria’s geopolitical zones.
She urged the public to report suspected illegal pesticides through NAFDAC’s official channels, stressing that protecting public health and supporting agriculture must go hand in hand.
