The House of Representatives has called for urgent measures to halt the circulation and use of hazardous pesticides in Nigeria’s agricultural sector, warning that the continued exposure poses severe threats to public health, food safety, and the environment.
Adopting a motion sponsored by Hon. Clement Jimbo during Wednesday’s plenary, the House also urged the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade, and Investment to develop a resuscitation plan for moribund industries across the six geopolitical zones and to include ₦350 million in the 2026 budget to begin their revival.
Leading the debate, Jimbo explained that while pesticides remain vital for crop protection, the proliferation of Highly Hazardous Pesticides (HHPs) in Nigeria has reached alarming levels.
Citing data from the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), he revealed that more than 50 percent of registered pesticides in Nigeria fall under the HHP category — many of which are banned in other countries due to their toxicity.
Jimbo noted that about 70 percent of suicides in Nigeria are linked to the ingestion of toxic pesticides such as Dichlorvos (DDVP), popularly known as Sniper.
He further warned that indiscriminate importation and misuse of such chemicals have contaminated soil and water sources, threatening the health of farmers, consumers, and entire ecosystems.
He recalled that in 2020, over 270 people reportedly died in Oyo Obi Community, Benue State, following the contamination of a local river by the banned pesticide Endosulfan.
The lawmaker also lamented the long-standing collapse of Nigeria’s manufacturing industries but expressed optimism that President Bola Tinubu’s administration would prioritize industrial revitalization.
He emphasized that reviving strategic industries such as the Osogbo Steel Rolling Mill, Osogbo Machine Tools, and the Umuahia Ceramic Industry would stimulate economic growth, create jobs, and reduce import dependence.
The House unanimously adopted the motion and directed its Committees on Industry and Legislative Compliance to ensure implementation and report back within four weeks for further legislative action.
