Reps call for crackdown on hazardous pesticides

The House of Representatives has raised alarm over the widespread use of highly hazardous pesticides (HHPs) in Nigeria, warning that continued exposure poses grave risks to human health, food safety, and the environment. This followed a motion on Wednesday by Clement Jimbo (APC, Akwa Ibom). Jimbo told the House that over half of all pesticides […]

The House of Representatives has raised alarm over the widespread use of highly hazardous pesticides (HHPs) in Nigeria, warning that continued exposure poses grave risks to human health, food safety, and the environment.

This followed a motion on Wednesday by Clement Jimbo (APC, Akwa Ibom).

Jimbo told the House that over half of all pesticides currently registered by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) fall within the category of Highly Hazardous Pesticides — many of which have been banned in several countries due to severe health and ecological dangers.

He said the growing circulation of such chemicals, including Dichlorvos (DDVP), commonly known as Sniper, has led to widespread contamination of food, soil, and water, and has been linked to increasing cases of poisoning, cancer and suicide.

The lawmaker cited research showing that seven out of 13 of Nigeria’s most common pesticide ingredients are carcinogenic, recalling a 2020 tragedy in Oyo Obi community of Benue State, where over 270 people reportedly died after their river was contaminated with Endosulfan, a banned pesticide.

Adopting the motion, the House urged the Federal Ministries of Agriculture and Food Security, Health, and Environment — alongside NAFDAC and other relevant agencies — to conduct a nationwide review and inventory of all highly hazardous pesticides in circulation.

Lawmakers also directed NAFDAC to strengthen regulation, monitoring, and enforcement of pesticide importation and use, while ensuring that the list of banned chemicals is regularly updated.

Additionally, the House called on the Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria to promote integrated pest management strategies and support safer, organic alternatives such as biopesticides and agroecological methods already adopted by local farmers.

The Committees on Agricultural Production and Services and Environment were mandated to liaise with relevant agencies and stakeholders to develop a framework for the gradual phase-out and eventual ban of Highly Hazardous Pesticides in Nigeria.