The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has intensified its nationwide crackdown on illegal pesticides, seizing banned agrochemicals worth more than N800 million in four states. The Director-General of NAFDAC, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, disclosed this at a press conference in Lagos, warning farmers, agrochemical dealers, and distributors against the use, sale, and circulation of prohibited pesticides.
According to Adeyeye, the agency seized banned agrochemicals worth more than N800 million in Ogun, Ondo, Osun, and Oyo states in 2025. Subsequent enforcement operations uncovered additional consignments of prohibited chemicals across the country. NAFDAC also intercepted 5,619 cartons, equivalent to 67,428 litres, of banned paraquat and 500 cartons weighing 5,000 kilogrammes of banned atrazine in Kebbi State.
Enforcement operations across the North-West between September 2024 and July 2026 resulted in the seizure, interception, or custody of 2,974 cartons of pesticides containing banned paraquat, valued at approximately N148.7 million. Adeyeye explained that all applicable phase-out periods under NAFDAC’s completed regulatory measures had ended by January 1, 2026, meaning the affected products could no longer legally be manufactured, imported, distributed, sold, or used in Nigeria.
The prohibited products include pesticides containing paraquat, chlorpyrifos, and atrazine. The agency has also restricted the 100-millilitre pack size of dichlorvos, prohibiting its importation, manufacture, and sale in open markets and supermarkets. Adeyeye warned that the misuse of approved pesticides could expose farmers, consumers, and the environment to dangerous chemical residues.
A market study on beans detected pyrethroid and dimethoate residues exceeding safe limits, raising concerns about the potential risks associated with improper pesticide application and the safety of agricultural produce consumed by Nigerians. According to Adeyeye, dimethoate is neither approved nor effective for preserving harvested beans against pests such as weevils.
Adeyeye urged farmers to purchase pesticides only from legitimate agro-input dealers, follow product-label instructions, apply recommended quantities, and observe the stipulated intervals between pesticide application and harvesting. To strengthen enforcement, Adeyeye said NAFDAC was expanding its investigation and enforcement zonal offices from three to six to improve regulatory coverage across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones.
The agency is deepening collaboration with law enforcement bodies and other government institutions to track illegal imports, remove prohibited products from circulation, and prosecute offenders. Adeyeye called on manufacturers, importers, distributors, farmers, and consumers to support efforts to safeguard public health, protect the environment, and ensure that Nigerian agricultural produce meets food-safety requirements.
Key points
- NAFDAC seized banned agrochemicals worth over N800 million in four states.
- The prohibited products include pesticides containing paraquat, chlorpyrifos, and atrazine.
- NAFDAC is expanding its investigation and enforcement zonal offices to improve regulatory coverage.
