The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has warned Nigerians about unsafe pesticide residues detected in beans and reiterated the ban on chemicals containing paraquat, chlorpyrifos and atrazine.
Director-General of the agency, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, disclosed this in Lagos over the weekend, citing findings from a recent market surveillance study.
According to her, laboratory analysis showed the presence of pesticide residues, particularly pyrethroids and dimethoates, above internationally acceptable safety limits.
Adeyeye warned that the misuse of agrochemicals poses serious risks to food safety and public health.
She stressed that while some pesticides are approved for agricultural use, excessive or inappropriate application can expose consumers to harmful chemical residues.
The NAFDAC boss specifically cautioned farmers against using dimethoate for the post-harvest preservation of beans, noting that the chemical is not approved for protecting stored beans from weevil infestation.
She also reaffirmed that phase-out periods granted for the withdrawal of paraquat, chlorpyrifos and atrazine expired on January 1, 2026, making it illegal to manufacture, import, distribute or sell products containing the substances.
Despite the ban, Adeyeye said surveillance operations continue to uncover prohibited pesticides in circulation, attributing the trend to illegal importation and unauthorised local distribution.
She disclosed that NAFDAC had intensified collaboration with law enforcement agencies and other government institutions to track and remove banned products from the market.
The agency also announced restrictions on the 100ml pack of dichlorvos following concerns about its misuse and links to suicide cases.
Adeyeye urged farmers to strictly follow approved pesticide guidelines and adopt best agricultural practices to protect consumers and improve food safety standards.
