NAFDAC: Banned Pesticides Seized in Nigeria Market Crackdown

• NAFDAC has issued a warning regarding the illegal movement of banned and unregistered pesticides into Nigeria.
• The agency reported significant seizures of illegal agrochemicals, including over N800 million worth in 2025 and specific hauls of paraquat, chlorpyrifos, and atrazine.
• Key pesticides like paraquat, chlorpyrifos, and atrazine were phased out with bans effective between January 2024 and January 2025, concluding grace periods by January 2026.
• NAFDAC also prohibited the importation, manufacture, and open-market sale of 100ml dichlorvos (DDVP) due to concerns about its misuse on agricultural produce.
• The agency emphasizes strict compliance with regulatory standards for all pesticides to safeguard public health, food safety, and the environment.

The proliferation of banned and unregistered pesticides presents a grave threat to Nigeria's public health, the integrity of its food supply, and the delicate balance of its ecosystems.

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has recently sounded an alarm regarding the illicit flow of prohibited and unapproved pesticides across Nigeria's borders. This surge in illegal agrochemical activity poses considerable risks to the nation's public health, food safety, and environmental integrity. In response, NAFDAC has significantly ramped up its surveillance and enforcement efforts, aiming to dismantle the networks facilitating the entry of these banned pesticides into the Nigerian market through neighboring countries and informal channels.

Professor Mojisola Adeyeye, NAFDAC's Director-General, highlighted the agency's concern that agrochemicals lacking the necessary regulatory assessment are infiltrating local markets via informal distribution routes. This intensified NAFDAC agrochemical enforcement has yielded substantial results. In 2025 alone, the agency seized banned agrochemicals exceeding N800 million in value across Ogun, Ondo, Osun, and Oyo states. Further operations conducted in the North-West zone between September 2024 and July 2026 led to the interception of 2,974 cartons of paraquat-based pesticides, valued at approximately N148.7 million, alongside 120 cartons of chlorpyrifos-based pesticides worth over N17 million.

Recent enforcement actions in Kebbi State also resulted in the seizure of 5,619 cartons of paraquat-based products and 500 cartons of atrazine-based products. Beyond seizures, NAFDAC has taken direct action against illicit production, sealing four unauthorized pesticide and agrochemical manufacturing facilities located in Bichi, Kano State. The agency is actively strengthening its collaboration with security and law enforcement authorities to disrupt these illegal supply networks and ensure that offenders face prosecution, underscoring its commitment to preventing prohibited products from reaching the Nigerian market.

NAFDAC's heightened enforcement against the Nigeria illegal pesticide seizure is a direct consequence of comprehensive scientific reviews and extensive stakeholder consultations. These processes culminated in the phased ban of several specific pesticide active ingredients, crucial for enhancing Nigerian food safety regulations pesticides. The ban on paraquat, for instance, became effective on January 1, 2024, with its phase-out grace period concluding on January 1, 2026. Similarly, chlorpyrifos was banned from November 1, 2024, also with a phase-out period ending on January 1, 2026. Atrazine faced its ban starting January 1, 2025, and its grace period for phase-out likewise concluded on January 1, 2026.

In addition to these phased prohibitions, NAFDAC implemented a specific import prohibition for dichlorvos (DDVP). The agency has forbidden the importation, manufacture, and open-market or supermarket sale of 100ml pack sizes of dichlorvos, a substance widely known as DDVP. This particular restriction was imposed due to widespread concerns regarding its misuse on consumable agricultural produce, highlighting a critical aspect of pesticide supply chain compliance Nigeria.

These regulatory measures underscore NAFDAC's proactive approach to safeguarding public health and the environment from the dangers associated with certain agrochemicals. The agency's actions aim to ensure that only properly vetted and approved substances are available for use within the country, thereby mitigating the risks posed by the NAFDAC banned pesticides Nigeria market.

The proliferation of banned and unregistered pesticides presents a grave threat to Nigeria's public health, the integrity of its food supply, and the delicate balance of its ecosystems. NAFDAC emphasizes that while approved pesticides are indispensable for agricultural productivity, their handling and application must strictly adhere to established regulatory standards. This strict compliance is paramount for protecting consumers, farmers, and the broader environment from potential harm.

The agency warns that even agrochemicals officially sanctioned for use can become severe health hazards if they are misused. This includes incorrect application methods, spraying on crops for which they are not authorized, or harvesting produce before the recommended pre-harvest intervals have fully elapsed. Such practices undermine the safety protocols designed to protect both agricultural workers and the end consumers of food products.

To counter these risks, NAFDAC strongly advises farmers and other agro-input users to procure certified products exclusively from licensed dealers. Furthermore, it is crucial for users to meticulously follow label instructions, apply only the recommended quantities, observe all pre-harvest safety intervals, and ensure the proper disposal of empty pesticide containers. Adherence to these guidelines is vital for maintaining food safety and environmental health in Nigeria, reinforcing the importance of responsible pesticide use across the nation.

Lawyers advising clients in Nigeria's agricultural, food processing, or chemical import/export sectors must inform them of NAFDAC's intensified enforcement against banned pesticides like paraquat, chlorpyrifos, atrazine, and dichlorvos. Compliance officers should review supply chain integrity and product usage protocols to mitigate risks of seizures, penalties, and prosecution under these stringent regulations.

Source: Original reporting via PUNCH newspaper