The Alliance for Action on Pesticides in Nigeria (AAPN) has expressed concern over the widespread and poorly regulated distribution of highly hazardous pesticides (HHPs) across the country.

The coalition stated this at a news conference on Thursday in Abuja, entitled “Stop the Spread of Highly Toxic Chemicals in Our Food: Save Our Families, Save Our Health and Future.”

AAPN is a coalition of Nigerian civil society organisations, researchers, and other stakeholders working to address the harmful effects of pesticide use in Nigeria.

Speaking, Co-Founder of AAPN, Simon Irtwange, said that the use of highly toxic chemicals was dangerous to health and the environment.

He said that in Nigeria, various government programmes, including those facilitated by legislators, ministries, and development actors, routinely provided farmers and communities with agricultural inputs such as chemical fertilisers and pesticides.

He stated, “Without doubt, these pesticides play a significant role in Nigerian agriculture, but their use also presents deeper and bigger challenges across public health, trade, and environmental domains. This is even when viable alternatives and innovations in the country and globally are on the fast increase. A critical concern is that a significant portion of these pesticides fall under the category of highly hazardous pesticides (HHPs).’’

Mr Irtwange said that over 65 per cent of the active ingredients in pesticides used in Nigeria were classified as highly hazardous, adding that many of them were banned or strictly regulated in other countries due to serious health and environmental risks.

He said, “While the intention behind these distributions is often to support farmers and increase productivity, the reality is far more dangerous. These substances are linked to acute poisoning, cancers, neurological damage, and environmental harm. This is not merely a matter of good intentions gone wrong; it is a matter of public safety. The problem is compounded by weak regulatory oversight, limited farmer education, and poor enforcement mechanisms.’’

He added that many distributors and users were unaware of the dangers posed by the chemicals, which contributed to their misuse and excessive application.

Also speaking, Legal Lead, AAPN, Oreoluwa Adelakun, said that Nigeria now faces growing threats to human health, food safety, and agricultural trade due to the unchecked spread of HHPs.

”This systemic failure demands immediate, coordinated action to protect our people, our food systems, and our environment. These pesticides are causing a lot of damage to our health. Stop the spread of highly hazardous pesticides,” she said.

Victor Fabunmi of Sustainable Research and Action for Environmental Development (SRADeV Nigeria) said there was a need to stop the continued import, sales and usage of HHPS in Nigeria.

He stated, ”SRADeV Nigeria is calling for an immediate review and enforcement of national pesticide regulations to halt the continued importation, sale and use of HHPS in Nigeria. HHPS are pesticides known to pose severe, acute or chronic health and environmental risks as defined by internationally recognised classification systems, including those of the World Health Organisation (WHO).’’

(NAN)