The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has intensified efforts to curb the circulation of banned, unregistered and falsified pesticides in Nigeria.
The agency said the measures were aimed at protecting public health, ensuring food safety and safeguarding the agricultural value chain.
NAFDAC said all applicable phase-out periods under its pesticide regulatory measures ended on January 1, 2026, making affected products illegal to manufacture, import, distribute, sell or use. These include products containing paraquat, chlorpyrifos and atrazine.
The agency also restricted the 100ml pack size of dichlorvos, prohibiting its importation, manufacture and open-market or supermarket sale.
According to NAFDAC, enforcement operations in 2025 led to the seizure of banned agrochemicals worth more than ₦800 million across Ogun, Ondo, Osun and Oyo states.
Between September 2024 and July 2026, operations in the North-West Zone resulted in the seizure or interception of 2,974 cartons of pesticides containing paraquat, valued at approximately ₦148.7 million.
The agency said it had also sealed four unauthorised pesticide manufacturing facilities in Bichi, Kano State, in July 2026.
NAFDAC urged farmers, distributors and importers to use approved products and follow label instructions, warning that improper application could endanger consumers and the environment.
It also called for stronger collaboration among government agencies to prevent illegal imports and distribution.
