Agrochemicals, including herbicides, insecticides, fungicide, nematicides, have continued to remain important inputs used by farmers to confer protection on crops and also improve production and productivity.

Because of their cost-effectiveness compared to manual weeding or hand-picking, many farmers have resorted to using chemicals during production cycles to prevent and control weeds, insects and other pests that attack their farms.

Where the use of manual weeding would require many farm workers and resources, use of chemicals may require less, thereby saving production costs for the farmer and consequently adding to his return per investment at the end of the season.

Nigeria remains a leading importer of pesticides in Africa, accounting for more than a quarter of the continent’s total pesticides use. From 33,968 tonnes in 2012, pesticide utilisation in Nigeria rose to 57,822 tonnes in 2022, representing about 70% increase.

However, these chemicals are not without their associated risks and effects both on the environment and the persons handling them.

Different researches have shown that exposure to some of these chemicals or excessive application could result in acute toxicity, contamination of soil, ground and surface water, in addition to posing serious health threats to humans.

In a review on the impact of agrochemicals on human health, published in the International Journal of Environmental & Agriculture Research, Tasha (2025) reported that prolonged exposure to agrochemicals had been linked to severe health-related issues, including cancer, hormonal imbalances, neurological disorders and cardiovascular diseases.

A study on pesticide use and disposal behaviour among farmers by Yami (2025) cited that over 200,000 Nigerians die annually due to food poisoning, with different studies also indicating that pesticide residue levels in fresh fruit and vegetables in Nigeria often exceed acceptable standards, a development affecting the country’s export potential.

In Nigeria, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) is responsible for, among its other functions, inspection of production facilities and warehouses, development of guidelines and regulations in collaboration with relevant stakeholders, registration of pesticide products, surveillance and monitoring of safe and responsible use of pesticides, port inspection of pesticides, investigation and enforcement to ensure compliance.

Amid concerns over health risks associated with some agrochemicals, the agency, between 2022 and 2025, banned the importation and distribution of some pesticides for the safety of handlers and consumers of crops grown with the aid of the chemicals.

NAFDAC banned the importation of Paraquat and Atrazine on December 31, 2022 and 2023, respectively, with moratorium for the exhaustion of the available stock of the two chemicals set between January – December 2023 and 2024, respectively, and enforcement action put for January 2024 and 2025, for the two products.

It also prohibited the importation and manufacture of 100ml pack size of agricultural formulations of Dichlorvos, alongside others, including Diquat, Chlorpyrifos, Dieldrin, Parathion and Aldrin.

Stakeholders raise concern over alleged continued circulation of banned agrochemicals

Despite the ban placed on some of the agrochemicals, some stakeholders in the pesticide sector alleged that the products are still in circulation across markets, warning that the situation could weaken regulatory efforts while also exposing farmers and consumers to greater health risks.

CropLife Nigeria (CLN), which is an umbrella body of manufacturers, formulators, importers, distributors, farmers and other stakeholders in the pesticide sector, said continued circulation of banned agrochemicals in the country would not only expose users to health risks but also affect the acceptance of Nigerian agricultural produce at the international markets.

The CLN, in a recent statement, called on NAFDAC, the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA), the Farm Inputs Support Services (FISS) Department of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, the Nigeria Customs Service, the Nigeria Immigration Service, the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), other law-enforcement agencies, state governments and other relevant stakeholders to strengthen enforcement of regulations on pesticides to ensure compliance and safety of users.

The Alliance for Action on Pesticides in Nigeria (AAPN) is a coalition of civil society organisations, farmers’ groups, researchers, academics and other stakeholders working to promote responsible pesticide use and management of pesticides to reduce associated risks and also increase awareness among users.

Speaking at the organisation’s 2025 media briefing in Abuja, the Co-Founder of AAPN, Professor Simon Irtwange, decried that Nigeria loses about $362.5million annually due to the ban placed on its cowpea exports to the European Union as a result of high concentration of pesticide residues, expressing concern over misuse of pesticides across the country.

He said, “A critical concern is that a significant portion of these pesticides fall under the category of Highly Hazardous Pesticides (HHPs).

“Over 65% of the active ingredients in pesticides used in Nigeria are classified as highly hazardous, many of which are banned or strictly regulated in other countries due to serious health and environmental risks.

“While the intention behind these distributions is often to support farmers and increase productivity, the reality is far more dangerous.

“These substances are linked to acute poisoning, cancers, neurological damage, and environmental harm.

“This is not merely a matter of good intentions gone wrong, it is a matter of public safety.

“The problem is compounded by weak regulatory oversight, limited farmer education, and poor enforcement mechanisms.

“Many distributors and users are unaware of the dangers posed by these chemicals, which contribute to their misuse and excessive application.” He added.

We comply with NAFDAC, others – Agrochemical dealers

While an agro-input dealer who spoke to Daily Trust on condition of anonymity attributed the possibility of the circulation of the banned agrochemicals in some markets to certain factors, including desire of some businessmen to make brisk sales amid period of scarcity, other dealers, however, said they had complied with the ban on the named pesticides.

“You know, the ban is not on all the pesticides. Certain factors may be responsible for the continued circulation and distribution of these banned agrochemicals, including the desire of some dealers to exploit the situation and hike the prices amid scarcity during the ban.

“When there is a ban on a product, its legal importation will definitely stop, and this situation will lead to some kind of scarcity in the market, and some dealers may take advantage of the situation by increasing prices and also finding a way of smuggling the product from a country where it is not banned or restricted.

“Some farmers will naturally want to keep or stick to their old ways and products, so even with the ban, they will still prefer to look for the prohibited chemicals because of, perhaps, its perceived advantage or effectiveness to them. The demand will make some dealers to defy the prohibition and smuggle the products, and therefore they keep circulating across markets.” The source said.

But for Alaramma Isma’ila Mu’azu Mai Taki, an agro-input dealer at Muda Lawal market in Bauchi, it was always safer to comply with the directives of the regulatory agencies than get involved in what could affect the business entirely.

He said despite drop In sales due to the economic situation in the country, agrochemicals are still being patronised by farmers, particularly because the prices of herbicides have not skyrocketed as that of the fertilizers.

“Chemicals like the perfect killer had been widely accepted by farmers but they are not readily available now. Again, DD Force (Dichlorvos-based), is also not in supply now. Although their prices are high, many farmers preferred them to other chemicals because they considered them to be effective.

“There was a time when enforcement officials cracked down on dealers marketing it, but many farmers stuck to it. There are officials of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) who routinely enlighten us on any directives on the chemicals we sell, and we comply all the time. Even if there are demands for a particular banned herbicide, we always prioritise compliance rather than the profits.”

Another dealer in the market, Nura Abdullahi Isah, said, “We are aware that there are restrictions and bans on some chemicals, including paraquat, atrazine and others. For example, 100ml of sniper had been banned (which contains Dichlorvos) because people who are into drugs are abusing it. For some companies, when an active ingredient is banned, they retain the market name of the chemical but change the ingredient.

“Whenever there’s a ban on a chemical, many farmers will still demand it, but we usually help companies educate farmers to accept the substituted products by persuading and educating them on the implications of using the prohibited ones.

“We get information about pesticide regulations from companies and then NAFDAC. Operatives of the NSCDC also carry-out routine operations to ensure compliance, sometimes twice or thrice a month.”

Safwan Abubakar is another agro-input dealer at Muda Lawal market in Bauchi.

According to him, many farmers are slow in adopting newly introduced chemicals whenever there are prohibitions on others, saying some are, however, now adjusting.

“Yes, atrazine, paraquat and the likes have been banned, but they have substitutes, which are being imported and marketed. Farmers are gradually adjusting and opting for the substitutes. While some may still stick to the banned products, others will accept the new product and put it on trial.

“As with buyers who insist on getting the banned agrochemicals, we encourage and persuade them to try the replacements but ask them to look for it elsewhere if they wouldn’t want to accept the new ones. We always try to comply with directives from the regulatory bodies so as to avoid anything that could bring setback to our business.”

We’re not aware of the ban – Farmers

A cross-section of farmers who spoke to Daily Trust said they were not aware that NAFDAC had placed a ban on some agrochemicals, with some confirming that they had purchased and used some of the prohibited products during this year’s farming operations.

A farmer in Jigawa State who gave his name simply as Muhammad alleged in an interview with Daily Trust that some agro-dealers still import the banned pesticides, saying he became aware of the development after he visited a shop to buy the products.

“I didn’t know some chemicals were banned in the country and only got to learn about the development after visiting a shop in Kano to buy ParaForce (which contains Paraquat, one of the pesticides under the ban).

“The attendant, after confirming its availability, then repackaged it in coverings bearing the names of permitted agrochemicals, saying it was to evade any possible checks by regulatory agencies as the active ingredient had been prohibited in the country.

“Some dealers still import it either from Ghana or Cameroon but they sell it in repackaged coverings of permitted chemicals. Most of them will sell these banned chemicals you mentioned only to known customers for fear of doing business with law enforcement officials who may disguise to crackdown on defaulters.” He added.

Naziru Sani, a farmer in Sara community of Gwaram Local Government Area of Jigawa State, said he purchased and used Gramazone (a paraquat-based herbicide) on his farm during this cropping season.

He said he was neither aware of the ban nor well-informed about the health risks associated with using agrochemicals, stating that many farmers opted for the chemicals to save cost involved in engaging farm workers for weeding.

“This season, I purchased and used chemicals including ButaForce and Gramazone which I applied before planting to destroy weeds on the farm.

“Honestly, I’m not aware of any restrictions. All I know is that we use chemicals to cut costs. If you apply chemicals, it will save you the effort of having to engage farm workers to manually weed the farm.

“Where you spent ₦5,000 on chemicals, you may need ₦20,000 if you were to engage labourers for manual weeding. So it saves cost.

“As with awareness of their effects on our health, we actually don’t know much about that because there are no extension workers or other relevant personnel around here to educate us on the implications. Only a few of us use facemasks when spraying the chemicals.”

A farmer in Bauchi, Mallam Khalid Muhammad, who expressed concern over the health risks associated with the use of agrochemicals, said he was sceptical about using pesticides but was sometimes compelled to do so because of the costs of engaging farm workers for manual weeding.

“Although I’m not aware of the ban on some pesticides, I welcome the development because exposure to these chemicals is risky and could endanger lives. I always try to use personal protective equipment (PPE) to protect myself. I use a respirator rather than just a face mask as it may only prevent one from inhaling dust. I also wear rain boots and long-sleeved clothing.

“I also ensure that I dispose of the chemicals properly. After applying or spraying chemicals, I sometimes buy and drink milk. I’m always concerned about how exposure to these chemicals could affect our health because the effects may not manifest immediately.”

He called on government and other relevant stakeholders to ensure that farmers comply with safety regulations and enforcement of proper handling and use of agrochemicals.

In separate interviews with Daily Trust, other farmers, including Kabiru Zubairu (Gombe), Muhammad Nazir Ahmad (Bauchi), and Muhammad Sani Salisu (Kano), said they were not aware of the NAFDAC’s directives on some pesticides.

Expert blames shortage of extension workers for farmers’ lack of awareness

Dr Salisu Abdullahi, Head of the Department of Agricultural Extension and Rural Development at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU), Bauchi, said lack of awareness of regulations governing pesticide use among farmers could be attributed to the shortage of agricultural extension workers in the country.

He said there is a dearth of extension workers who will pass the necessary information and knowledge on agricultural practices, including pesticide use, to farmers to ensure increased productivity and safety.

“Since NAFDAC, as the regulatory body, has banned these chemicals, it is important for farmers to avoid them because exposure to them could pose serious risks to their health and the environment.

“The government needs to ensure that there are enough extension workers to educate farmers, not only on pesticide regulations but also on other aspects of agricultural production with a view to increasing productivity.”

He expressed concern that many farmers are still unaware of or fail to observe the pre-harvest interval (PHI), saying failure to adhere to the waiting period could pose serious threat to consumer safety.

“Many farmers continue to use these chemicals because they are cheaper than manual labour and, therefore, help them reduce production costs, but sadly, this practice has its own consequences.

“More worrisome is the fact that, whether a chemical is banned or not, many farmers are either unaware or are not observing the pre-harvest interval (PHI), which is the waiting period between the last application of a pesticide and the harvesting of crops for consumption. This poses a threat to the safety of consumers.”

He, however, advised farmers to take advantage of mass media and digital platforms rather than rely solely on the government for access to agricultural extension services.

“In this digital age, we cannot simply rely on the government to do everything. Farmers should leverage their phones and take advantage of the services available to them through verified channels.”

Agrochemical exposure, misuse can cause organ damage, cancer – Pharmacologist warns

Dr Zubairu Sebastine Aliyu, Head of the Department of Pharmacology at the Gombe State University (GSU), said farmers’ exposure to pesticides could have serious health consequences, particularly when the chemicals were improperly handled or applied without protective equipment.

He said farmers could be exposed through inhalation, skin contact and ingestion, while contaminated water, clothing, animals and food could also expose other members of their households and communities to the chemicals.

Sabastine, who is also an expert in toxicology, said exposure to such chemicals could be acute, causing symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, breathing difficulties, skin irritation and neurological problems, leading to prolonged damage to vital organs.

“These chemicals are used in an effort to protect farm products from weeds taking over the farm and insects damaging the crops. What many people do not realise or know is that, during the spraying process, they inhale some of these chemicals in the form of aerosols. As the chemicals are sprayed, they become airborne and can be inhaled.

“Once inhaled, they can enter the body. There is what we call dermal absorption, where the chemicals come into contact with the skin during mixing or spraying and penetrate through the skin into the systemic circulation, from where they can reach different organs.

“Sometimes, the chemicals can affect the eyes. They can also be ingested. For instance, after spraying a farm, rainfall can wash the chemicals into areas where people fetch water for drinking and other activities. Our cattle and other animals can also drink the same contaminated water. That is what we call secondary exposure.”

He said contaminated clothes worn during spraying could also expose family members who had not been on the farm, while animals that consumed contaminated water could later become a source of exposure when their meat is consumed.

“Contaminated clothes worn during spraying can also be brought home. Children may handle them, while a wife who was not on the farm may wash the clothes and become exposed to the toxic substances. You see, it is a holistic issue.

“The same cattle that drink contaminated water may later be slaughtered and their meat consumed. At the end of the day, we have what we call acute exposure, where toxicity occurs suddenly. Then there is chronic exposure, which occurs over a prolonged period. Most of the time, people may not know what is gradually affecting their health.”

Sabastine said acute exposure could affect the nervous system, gastrointestinal tract, respiratory system, eyes and skin, while prolonged exposure could cause oxidative stress and damage organs such as the liver and kidneys.

“In acute exposure, there can be neurological effects. It can affect the nerves, consciousness, cognition and memory. There can also be gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain and diarrhoea.

“Sometimes, people may experience chest tightness, difficulty breathing and, in severe cases, respiratory failure. (Daily Trust)

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