Nigeria's NAFDAC trains staff to address pesticide residues and lift bean export bans

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has completed a three‑day capacity‑building programme for its staff on pesticide‑residue risk assessment. The training, run with Mississippi State University and based on a USDA‑sponsored study of beans and sesame seeds, equipped participants with skills in residue surveillance, laboratory analysis, food‑safety risk assessment, HACCP and evidence‑based regulatory decision‑making.

NAFDAC says the initiative strengthens Nigeria’s food‑safety system, improves the quality of locally produced agricultural commodities and supports the lifting of international restrictions on Nigerian beans that were imposed over pesticide‑residue concerns. Officials Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye and Dr. Gbenga Fajemirokun noted that the research identified critical control points where residues enter the supply chain, helping regulators prevent contamination, protect consumers and boost export competitiveness.