The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has warned against the sale and use of banned pesticides, saying illegal products and improper chemical use pose risks to public health, food safety and the environment.
The agency said all approved phase-out periods for banned pesticides ended on 1st January 2026, meaning products containing prohibited chemicals can no longer be manufactured, imported, sold or used in Nigeria.
NAFDAC said banned chemicals include paraquat, chlorpyrifos and atrazine.
It also reported seizures of illegal agrochemicals worth more than ₦800 million in Ogun, Ondo, Osun and Oyo states in 2025.
Between September 2024 and July 2026, enforcement operations in the Northwest seized or intercepted 2,974 cartons of pesticides containing banned paraquat, valued at about ₦148.7 million.
The agency said one suspect was being prosecuted.
The agency also raised concerns about pesticide residues found in beans during a market study, saying some chemicals exceeded safe limits.
It warned that using excessive amounts of pesticides or applying chemicals to crops for purposes not approved on their labels could endanger consumers.
NAFDAC urged farmers to buy approved products from listed dealers, follow label instructions and observe the required waiting period between pesticide application and harvest.
The agency said it was strengthening border checks, market surveillance and enforcement against illegal pesticide businesses. It also disclosed that more than 2,000 agro-input dealers had received training on identifying genuine products and using pesticides safely.
NAFDAC called on manufacturers, distributors, farmers and consumers to help prevent the circulation and misuse of unsafe pesticides.
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