NAFDAC seizes N800m in banned agrochemicals in Nigeria

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has seized banned agrochemicals valued at over N800m across Ogun, Ondo, Osun, and Oyo states. During a press briefing, Director-General Professor Mojisola Adeyeye warned farmers about the misuse of pesticides, noting that a recent market study on beans revealed pesticide residues exceeding safe limits.

Specifically, the agency identified pyrethroids and dimethoate as residues found in beans above safe levels. Adeyeye clarified that while dimethoate is used for field crops, it is not approved for preserving harvested beans against pests like weevils. She emphasized that the primary risk arises from improper application rather than the chemicals themselves.

In the North-West Zone, enforcement operations between September 2024 and July 2026 led to the seizure of 2,974 cartons of pesticides containing banned paraquat, valued at approximately N148.7m, as well as 120 cartons of chlorpyrifos-containing pesticides worth over N17m.