Toxic Harvest: Nigerian Farmers Raise Alarm Over Harmful Pesticides Amid Weak Regulations

By Adeyemi Obadimu



By NEWSEXTRA Reporter | In collaboration with the Alliance for Action on Pesticides in Nigeria (AAPN)

During a recent field research mission by NEWSEXTRA, supported by the Alliance for Action on Pesticides in Nigeria (AAPN), our correspondent, Adeyemi Obadimu, met with a female local farmer, Sanni Olayemi,  based in Abule Egba, Lagos State, has expressed deep concern and dissatisfaction over the continued use of chemical pesticides in farming practices within her community. In an emotional recount of her personal experience, Olayemi shared the serious health challenges she faces each time she applies these chemicals on her farm.

“Each time I use pesticide chemicals, whether I cover my nose or not, I always end up with severe headaches and flu-like symptoms that can last for up to three days and sometimes even stretch into a whole week,” she lamented.

According to her, the harmful effects of these substances are taking a toll on her health and well-being. Despite this, she explained that many local farmers, including herself, have no option but to continue using chemical pesticides due to the lack of alternatives or proper training in organic farming methods.

“We don’t know which pesticide is safe and which one is dangerous. We just use whatever we can afford or what’s available in the market,” she explained. “Until we have access to agricultural experts or organizations that can teach us how to practice organic farming, we will be left with no choice but to keep using these harmful chemicals no matter the risks.”

Her plea highlights the urgent need for awareness, government intervention, and the introduction of sustainable, eco-friendly farming practices at the grassroots level. Farmers like Sanni Olayemi represent a growing number of agricultural workers in Nigeria who are unknowingly putting their health at risk due to inadequate knowledge and limited access to safer farming alternatives.



In a similar voice of concern, Ogochukwu Okoye, a vegetable farmer and trader, has revealed the difficult reality faced by small scale female farmers who are forced to rely on chemical pesticides despite knowing the health and environmental risks involved.

Speaking candidly, Okoye admitted that although she is fully aware of the hazards associated with the use of pesticides, she has no alternative but to use them to ensure her crops survive and mature quickly.

“We don’t have any other option. The pesticide is the only thing that helps our plants grow faster and protects them from pests,” she explained. “We know it’s not healthy, but we have to survive. It’s either we use it or risk losing the entire harvest.”

Okoye went further to explain the added pressure of having to sell her vegetables almost immediately after harvest due to the short shelf life of chemically treated produce.

“If I don’t finish selling them on the first day—or at the latest, the second day—the vegetables start changing colour and losing their freshness. By the third day, they become unattractive and unfit for sale,” she said. “That’s how fast the pesticide works on the produce. It may make it grow faster, but it doesn’t last.”

Her account underscores a deeper issue of systemic neglect. According to Okoye, female farmers are especially left out when it comes to government support, training, and empowerment programs.

“Government is not doing anything to help us, especially we women in farming. We have no access to organic alternatives, no training, no subsidies nothing,” she lamented. “If we had the right support, we would not be relying on these harmful chemicals.”

Ogochukwu Okoye’s experience reflects a larger crisis in Nigeria’s agricultural sector, where grassroots farmers are struggling with poor access to information, lack of institutional support, and a heavy dependence on chemical inputs. Her story calls for urgent government intervention to introduce safer farming practices, provide access to organic alternatives, and support female farmers through education and financial assistance.


Furthermore, Mr. Ibrahim Akanbi, a farmer from Ibogun in Ekundayo Power Line, Ifo Local Government Area of Ogun State, shared his bitter experience with the use of chemical pesticides. According to him, most of the chemicals not only damaged his crops but also caused unexpected losses in his fish farming business. He explained that the moment he applied chemical products to the soil, the fishes in his nearby pond began to die, resulting in significant financial loss.

Mr. Akanbi, who engages in both crop cultivation and fish farming, recalled that the year he tried using chemical pesticides, none of his crops yielded well. He added that his customers even complained about the quality of the produce, with some threatening to stop buying from him altogether due to the poor results.

He stressed that traditional farming methods practiced in the past were far more effective and safer than today’s chemical-based farming. According to him, not only do these chemicals harm crops and aquatic life, but they also pose serious health risks to humans. Mr. Akanbi used the opportunity to appeal to the government for support in the form of financial aid and access to safe, organic fertilizers, emphasizing that farmers depend on their produce for both their livelihood and the sustenance of the general public.


Reacting to the continued use of pesticides among Nigerian farmers, particularly those that have been banned internationally, A  Lagos state Farmer in an interview with  NEWSEXTRA,
Otunba Dr. Adegbenro Ogunlana, Secretary General of Agbekoya Worldwide, expressed strong disapproval and called for a return to indigenous agricultural practices rooted in natural methods.

According to Otunba Ogunlana, many of the so-called fertilizers and pesticides being imported into Nigeria are not only ineffective but also dangerous. “These so-called fertilizers are not fertilizing,” he said. “They are damaging our soil, our food, and ultimately our people. Nigeria is richly blessed with natural resources that serve the same purpose if not better than these foreign chemicals.”

He stressed that Nigeria is not meant to follow the path of heavily industrialized agricultural countries that rely on synthetic inputs to force crop growth. “God created Nigeria with fertile land and favorable climate. We have all we need to farm without harmful chemicals,” he said. “We have cows that defecate anywhere, and even humans contribute to the organic cycle. What people now call ‘manure’ or ‘organic fertilizer’ is what we’ve had naturally for centuries. Our soil is already enriched by nature.”

Otunba Ogunlana also noted that Nigeria’s traditional planting calendar aligns with natural soil fertility cycles. “We have specific seasons for corn, beans, bananas, and others, and during those times, natural fertilizers have already taken effect,” he explained. “In the past, if bananas weren’t ripe on time, we simply used local methods—like using ‘camped’ leaves to cover them and ripen naturally. We didn’t rely on artificial ripeners or chemicals.”

Linking the rise in modern diseases to chemical use in agriculture, the Agbekoya leader warned of serious health consequences. “We didn’t have all these cancer cases during our forefathers’ time. The disease was rare, if not unheard of. It’s not a communicable disease; it’s largely a result of what we’re putting into our bodies through chemically grown food,” he said. “As a medical doctor myself, I can say confidently that many of these chemicals are behind the rising health issues we are seeing, but I won’t go deeper because there are regulatory associations guiding medical disclosures.”

He added, “We’re the ones searching for what we didn’t lose. Instead of building on what God gave us naturally, we’re importing poisons and calling them solutions. It’s time we retrace our steps and embrace organic, traditional farming practices.”


Adeyemi Obadimu also met with a local farmer, Mr. Gbenga Shaba, in Lufuwape Town, Obafemi Owode Local Government Area of Ogun State. In a candid interview, Mr. Shaba voiced deep concerns about the ongoing use of harmful and internationally banned pesticides among Nigerian farmers.

Mr. Shaba, who has been farming in the area for years, acknowledged the importance of pesticides in modern agriculture, especially in Nigeria where agriculture remains a cornerstone of the economy and food security. “Pesticides help us fight off pests, weeds, and diseases that destroy our crops,” he said. “Without them, many of us would lose large portions of our harvests.”

He explained that pesticides such as insecticides, herbicides, and fungicides are essential for improving yields and ensuring a steady supply of food in the face of rising population pressures. “Many of us are small-scale farmers without access to modern equipment,” he added. “Pesticides help us survive and make some profit.”

However, he expressed grave concern about the types of chemicals still being circulated and used across Nigerian farms. “It’s sad and scary that chemicals like Paraquat, Chlorpyrifos, Atrazine, and Carbofuran are still being sold openly, even though other countries have banned them for health and environmental reasons,” Mr. Shaba lamented.

While explaining the health challenges, he said the health implications of these banned substances, he noted, are far-reaching. “Farmers are getting sick, some are even dying slowly. These chemicals don’t just affect us on the farm they contaminate the food people eat,” he said. “They poison the soil, pollute the rivers, and kill beneficial insects and animals. Over time, the land loses its fertility and the pests become resistant, making things worse.”


Another reaction by a Lagos State seasoned Farmer Ambassador John Adekorede Aderibigbe, the National Chairman of Nigeria Agricultural Commodity Practitioners (NACP), during a physical interview with NEWSEXTRA, revealed that the unregulated use of pesticides among Nigerian farmers is largely due to duplicated functions among regulatory bodies and poor enforcement of safety standards.

Aderibigbe, who is also a practicing farmer and agricultural consultant with over 16 years of experience in fertilizer importation, said Nigeria’s agricultural system was traditionally organic before the emergence of crude oil. According to him, in the past, Nigerian farmers relied on natural methods such as ashes (eru in Yoruba), animal dung, and spoilt crops like tomatoes and fruits to nourish the soil and protect crops.

He noted that today’s widespread reliance on synthetic agrochemicals has introduced dangerous health and environmental risks. While reacting to the growing presence of harmful pesticides in Nigerian markets, Aderibigbe said this development stems from a lack of coordination between agencies like the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), the Standard Organization of Nigeria (SON), and the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security.

He explained that a department within NAFDAC called VMAP (Veterinary Medicines and Allied Products) is responsible for screening and regulating pesticides being imported into the country. However, he lamented that some importers now bypass NAFDAC by going directly to the Ministry of Agriculture’s Fertilizer Department, which issues memos without the required laboratory testing or health risk assessments.

Aderibigbe pointed out that this situation has allowed unapproved and dangerous chemicals, many of which are banned in other countries, to enter and circulate in Nigeria’s agricultural sector.

“These pesticides are not just harmful to pests; they leave behind residues in crops that humans consume, which has led to an increase in health problems like cancer, kidney stones, and other chronic diseases,” he said.

He cited countries like Thailand, which have shifted to organic pest and weed control methods, using environmentally friendly techniques such as the use of ducks for weed control instead of chemicals.

Aderibigbe stressed that beyond health, these chemicals also affect the quality and shelf life of food. He said that in the past, vegetables such as carrots and fruits like watermelon could stay fresh for longer periods, but now, even common vegetables like spinach (Efo) lose their freshness and spoil within a day.

He said the growing health crisis caused by agrochemical residues in food demands urgent action from the Nigerian government, particularly in the area of regulatory harmonization and enforcement. According to him, NAFDAC used to be feared by importers due to its strict enforcement, but now, many bypass its process by getting approvals from the Ministry of Agriculture.

He warned that many chemicals being imported into Nigeria today are produced solely for export, as they are banned in the manufacturers’ home countries due to health risks. “They can’t use these chemicals in their own countries, so they export them to us where the regulations are weak,” he said.

Aderibigbe called for a national sensitization campaign to educate farmers on the dangers of using harmful agrochemicals, and for government agencies to work in unity, ensuring only tested and approved inputs are allowed into the Nigerian market.

He concluded by stressing that food safety and public health must be prioritized in the interest of national development and future generations.


Meanwhile Mr. Jimoh Boniface revealed that in his over 30 years of farming, he has never used chemical pesticides on his crops. According to him, he inherited traditional farming methods from his forefathers, and he has consistently practiced organic farming, relying solely on manual tools such as cutlasses and hoes.

“I have never used any of those pesticides they talk about. Everything I plant grows naturally, and they always come out healthy,” he stated.



Our team physically inspected some of his crops on the farm and confirmed their healthy appearance, further validating his claim of successful natural farming.

Mr. Boniface, however, expressed concern about the increasing physical strain that comes with traditional methods, especially as he grows older. He noted that the aging body can no longer endure long hours of labor without support.

“We need the government to assist us, especially financially, and with access to good fertilizers. We are getting old and can’t work like before,” he pleaded.



He emphasized that the little income generated from farming is what he and other local farmers rely on to feed their families and send their children to school.

“We are not asking for too much. Just some financial support and training on organic methods will go a long way in improving our lives and sustaining safe farming practices,” he added.


Mr. Boniface account highlights the resilience of traditional farmers and the urgent need for government intervention to support a shift toward sustainable and health-conscious agriculture in Nigeria.



Getting reaction from Secretary General of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), Dr. Godfrey Nwosu,  offered a more institutional perspective on the matter. While acknowledging concerns about pesticide use, Dr. Nwosu defended the regulatory process that oversees the introduction of agricultural chemicals into the country. saying they are in the best position to know the chemicals that are good or not.

“Before any pesticide or agrochemical is allowed for use in Nigeria, it must first pass through a rigorous assessment by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture,” Dr. Nwosu stated. “These experts evaluate whether such chemicals are suitable for our soil and climate. Not everything that works in foreign soil is compatible with Nigeria’s ecosystem.”

Dr. Nwosu emphasized that the ministry considers both the safety and efficacy of chemicals before giving approval. “There are regulatory frameworks in place to ensure that only products that meet our local agricultural needs and health standards are allowed,” he said. “We trust that the Federal Ministry of Agriculture has the knowledge, experience, and data to make those determinations better than individual farmers or even associations.”

He, however, urged continuous review and enforcement of regulations to prevent the infiltration of banned or substandard products into local markets. “What we need is stronger enforcement at our borders and marketplaces. Smuggling and unregulated sales are the real threats,” he said.


In conclusion, Both leaders, while approaching the issue from different angles, agree on one thing: the health of the Nigerian soil and people must take precedence. While Otunba Ogunlana champions a return to organic, traditional methods rooted in indigenous wisdom and natural cycles, Dr. Nwosu supports a regulated, evidence-based approach to ensure that any agricultural chemicals in use are safe and appropriate for local conditions.