Nigeria is losing about $363 million every year as a result of the European Union’s ban on the country’s beans exports due to dangerous pesticide residues, according to the Alliance for Action Against Pesticides in Nigeria (AAPN), Nairametrics reported.
Prof. Simon Irtwange, Co-Founder of AAPN, disclosed this in Abuja on Thursday during a news conference themed “Stop the Spread of Highly Hazardous Pesticides (HHPs).”
He revealed that over 76% of Nigeria’s agricultural exports are routinely rejected by the EU for safety reasons linked to pesticide contamination, with most of the rejections caused by residues from chemicals that are banned internationally but still permitted for use in Nigeria.
Irtwange explained that the impact of the ban has gone beyond beans, affecting other agricultural products over the past decade, including sesame seeds, melon seeds, dried fish, peanut chips, groundnut, palm oil, and yam.
He stressed that these restrictions have caused massive trade losses and damaged Nigeria’s global reputation.
Citing available figures, he stated that Nigeria uses about 23,400 metric tonnes of pesticides every year across agriculture and other industries.
As of 2017, farmers and agro-based companies in the country were already spending an estimated $400 million annually on pesticides, according to the Nigerian Stored Products Research Institute.
He added that Nigeria currently allows the registration and use of over 400 pesticide formulations, more than half of which are considered highly hazardous and are banned in the EU, US, and parts of Asia.
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According to him, more than 80% of pesticides distributed to smallholder farmers in Nigeria have been banned or phased out internationally because of health and safety risks.
He listed frequent health problems linked to these chemicals as respiratory issues, skin rashes, nausea, vomiting, and eye irritation, while chronic exposure could lead to reproductive disorders, cancers, and neurotoxicity.
Calling for urgent action, Irtwange urged lawmakers, agricultural ministries, and philanthropic organizations to support safer alternatives such as bio-pesticides, organic fertilizers, and agroecological practices.
He suggested that these alternatives be incorporated into constituency projects, input support programs, extension services, and budget allocations, particularly to help smallholder farmers.
“The National Assembly should enact a pesticide and agroecological control bill focused on protecting the health and environment of Nigerians.
The bill should promote full disclosure, transparency, public participation, and strong oversight,” he said.
Also speaking at the event, Mrs. Oreoluwa Adelakun, Legal Lead at AAPN, called on legislators and regulatory agencies to stop the circulation of highly hazardous pesticides in the country.
She criticized the continued distribution of toxic agrochemicals through constituency projects, pointing out that many farmers and communities are still unaware of the long-term health and environmental dangers.
Adelakun warned that these substances are contaminating water sources, degrading soil, and posing serious risks to vulnerable groups such as farmers, pregnant women, children, and consumers.
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Image Credit: MSME Africa
