Reps Move to Ban Hazardous Pesticides Amid Rising Health and Environmental Risks
By Comfort Chukwukelue,
The House of Representatives has called for urgent nationwide action to phase out the use of Highly Hazardous Pesticides (HHPs) across Nigeria, citing growing health, environmental, and economic dangers associated with their circulation.
This followed the adoption of a motion titled “Stoppage and Mitigation of Risks Associated with the Use of Hazardous Pesticides Across Nigeria”, sponsored by Hon. Clement Jimbo (Akwa Ibom, APC), during plenary on Wednesday, October 15, 2025.
Presenting the motion, Hon. Jimbo warned that the widespread use of hazardous pesticides poses “grave risks to human health, food safety, environmental sustainability, and biodiversity,” noting that the situation requires urgent legislative and regulatory attention.
He expressed concern that over 50% of pesticides registered by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) fall under the Highly Hazardous Pesticides category, and nearly 60% of them are already banned in other countries due to their deadly effects.
“Reports indicate rising cases of pesticide poisoning, soil degradation, and food residue contamination due to unregulated use of these chemicals in Nigeria,” Hon. Jimbo said. “Seven out of thirteen common pesticide ingredients in use are cancerous, and in 2020, over 270 people died in Benue State after Endosulfan contaminated a community river.”
The lawmaker also drew attention to alarming statistics showing that 70% of suicides in Nigeria involve the ingestion of Highly Hazardous Pesticides, such as Dichlorvos (DDVP), commonly sold as Sniper.
He lamented that the continued importation and unregulated use of such chemicals not only endanger farmers and consumers but also harm pollinators, contaminate water sources, and cause rejection of Nigerian agricultural exports in international markets.
“Continued inaction could undermine food security, endanger public health, violate international obligations, and increase long-term medical and ecological costs to the nation,” he warned.
In adopting the motion, the House urged the Federal Ministries of Agriculture and Food Security, Health and Social Development, and Environment, alongside non-governmental organizations, to conduct a nationwide review and inventory of all Highly Hazardous Pesticides in circulation.
Lawmakers also called on NAFDAC to strengthen monitoring and enforcement mechanisms on the importation, distribution, and use of pesticides, while keeping the list of banned substances updated.
Additionally, the House urged the Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria to promote integrated pest management strategies and provide incentives for safer and organic alternatives, such as biopesticides and agroecological farming methods.
Finally, 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, and report back within four weeks for further legislative action.
The motion underscores the growing urgency for Nigeria to adopt sustainable agricultural practices and safeguard public health from toxic chemical exposure.
