NAFDAC Warns Against Pesticide Misuse After Unsafe Residues Found in Some Beans

NAFDAC warns of food safety risks

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has warned that the misuse and illegal circulation of pesticides pose risks to public health and food safety in Nigeria, following the detection of pesticide residues above permitted limits in some samples of beans.

The agency’s Director-General, Professor Mojisola Adeyeye, raised the concerns during a media briefing in Lagos on Friday, 9 October 2026, as NAFDAC outlined enforcement measures against banned, unregistered, falsified and improperly used agrochemicals.

According to reports of the briefing, a recent market study detected residues of pyrethroids and dimethoate above applicable safety limits in some bean samples. The findings have renewed concerns about how pesticides are applied to crops and whether chemicals are being used to preserve harvested food without appropriate regulatory approval.

NAFDAC stressed that pesticides remain important for agricultural production and crop protection but must be approved for their intended uses and applied in accordance with regulatory requirements.

Misuse of approved pesticides can also be dangerous

The agency’s warning extends beyond prohibited products to pesticides that may be legally registered but are used incorrectly.

Unsafe practices include applying more than the recommended quantity, using a pesticide on crops or against pests not specified on its label, mixing products inappropriately and harvesting produce before the required waiting period has elapsed.

These practices can leave excessive chemical residues on food. They can also expose farmers and other handlers to pesticides during mixing, application and cleaning of equipment.

A particularly important distinction concerns the use of pesticides before and after harvest. A product approved for controlling pests on growing crops is not automatically authorised for treating harvested produce during storage.

NAFDAC said dimethoate was not approved for preserving harvested beans against storage pests such as weevils. Certain pyrethroids may be permitted for post-harvest use under specified conditions, but users must follow the approved instructions and observe the required waiting period before the produce is consumed.

The agency’s findings do not establish that all beans sold in Nigeria are unsafe. The reported results concern some samples, while the publicly reported information does not specify the total number tested, the sampling locations or the concentrations detected. Those details are important for assessing the extent of the problem.

More than ₦800 million worth of prohibited agrochemicals seized

NAFDAC also reported significant enforcement activity against illegal pesticides.

The agency said operations in 2025 resulted in the seizure of prohibited agrochemicals valued at more than ₦800 million across Ogun, Ondo, Osun and Oyo states.

Further operations in the North-West between September 2024 and July 2026 reportedly resulted in the seizure, interception or recovery of 2,974 cartons of pesticides containing paraquat, with an estimated value of ₦148.7 million. The agency also reported the interception of 120 cartons of pesticides containing chlorpyrifos, valued at more than ₦17 million.

In a separate operation in Kebbi State, officials intercepted 5,619 cartons containing 67,428 litres of paraquat, alongside 500 cartons of atrazine products, according to reports of the briefing.

NAFDAC also disclosed that four unauthorised pesticide and agrochemical production facilities were sealed in Bichi, Kano State, in July 2026. The facilities reportedly contained unlabelled products, bulk chemicals and packaging materials associated with illicit production.

These operations highlight the challenge of preventing prohibited products from entering agricultural supply chains through illegal importation, unauthorised manufacturing and distribution.

The agency said it was strengthening border checks, market surveillance and cooperation with law-enforcement bodies. It also reported that more than 2,000 agro-input dealers had received training.

Banned pesticides remain a regulatory concern

NAFDAC identified paraquat, chlorpyrifos and atrazine among the prohibited pesticide active ingredients targeted by its enforcement activities.

The agency said the applicable phase-out periods for these substances had ended, meaning products covered by the completed restrictions could no longer legally be manufactured, imported, distributed, sold or used in Nigeria.

The continued discovery of such products after the relevant deadlines raises questions about the effectiveness of supply-chain controls and the ability of regulators to prevent banned chemicals from reaching farmers and other users.

Enforcement against prohibited products is only one part of the response. Regulators must also ensure that registered pesticides are correctly labelled, distributed through legitimate channels and used according to their approved conditions.

What pesticide regulations require

NAFDAC’s Pesticide Registration Regulations 2019 establish requirements for pesticide registration, labelling and use. Approved labels provide essential information on dosage, directions for use, protective measures and relevant waiting periods.

Failure to comply can expose individuals and businesses to regulatory action, depending on the nature of the offence and the applicable legal provisions. NAFDAC has also warned that offenders may be required to bear the cost of destroying seized pesticides.

Farmers and agro-input dealers should therefore verify that products are registered and permitted for the intended crop and use. They should follow the instructions on the approved label rather than increasing the quantity in the belief that a stronger application will produce better results.

Appropriate personal protective equipment is also essential when handling pesticides. Users should follow product-specific precautions, avoid contaminating food and animal feed, and never reuse empty pesticide containers for household purposes.

Pesticide residues and contaminated containers should not be disposed of carelessly. Users should follow the product label and applicable local disposal requirements.

Implications for consumers and food safety

The findings on beans underline the importance of food safety controls extending beyond the point of sale. Protecting consumers requires appropriate pesticide use on farms, safe storage practices, effective residue monitoring and enforcement against illegal products.

Consumers should not interpret the findings as evidence that every batch of beans is contaminated. Nor should they assume that washing or cooking can reliably eliminate all pesticide residues. The effectiveness of these methods varies by pesticide and the type of contamination.

Where unsafe residues are identified, prevention and regulatory intervention are more reliable safeguards than expecting consumers to remove the chemicals at home.

The reported findings also point to the need for transparent communication about testing. Publishing information on sample numbers, locations, measured residue concentrations and the relevant safety limits would help the public understand the scale of the risk and enable independent scrutiny.

A shared responsibility across the food supply chain

NAFDAC’s warning places responsibility on manufacturers, importers, distributors, agro-input dealers and farmers to ensure that pesticides are lawful and used appropriately. Regulators must enforce existing requirements, while food-safety authorities and other relevant agencies need to coordinate surveillance and communicate findings clearly.

For farmers, the message is straightforward: use only approved pesticides for their authorised purposes, follow the recommended dosage and protective measures, and observe the required interval between application and harvest.

For consumers, the reported findings are a reminder of the importance of effective food-safety monitoring—not a reason to assume that all beans or other agricultural produce are unsafe.

More pesticide is not necessarily more effective. Responsible use, regulatory compliance and transparent food-safety surveillance are essential to protecting public health.