Every year, over $362 million worth of Nigeria’s food exports are rejected overseas because of pesticide residues, while back home, millions of people unknowingly consume chemicals that are already banned elsewhere.
Nigeria’s agricultural sector is confronting a severe crisis as the overuse of highly hazardous pesticides, many banned in other countries, is leading to massive export rejections and posing grave health risks to consumers.
The country loses over $362 million annually because its food exports, particularly beans, are rejected overseas due to unsafe pesticide residues. “More than 76 per cent of Nigeria’s agricultural exports are rejected by the European Union on safety grounds. For beans alone, Nigeria loses $362.5 million every year due to pesticide contamination,” said Donald Ofoegbu, Lead Coordinator of the Alliance for Action on Pesticides in Nigeria (AAPN).
Experts report that over 90% of Nigerian farmers use Highly Hazardous Pesticides (HHPs) like Paraquat and Chlorpyrifos, which are prohibited in many nations. This contamination threatens public health, with links to chronic illnesses, and degrades soil fertility. “We are exposed to danger because most farmers lack knowledge of safe pesticide use. Soil fertility has been destroyed,” said Zainab Isah Arah, a small-scale women farmers’ chair.
In reaction, the Director-General of NAFDAC, Prof. Christianah Adeyeye, described export rejections as an “unfortunate incident” and assured that the agency is taking decisive action, including banning harmful pesticides like Paraquat. She urged exporters to work with NAFDAC, stating, “If they do not come to NAFDAC, they may think it is okay for this country, let’s just export it. But what is acceptable for another country may not be acceptable elsewhere.”
Experts are calling for an immediate ban on hazardous pesticide imports and a national shift towards safer agroecological practices to safeguard both the economy and public health.