Health

NAFDAC Takes Bold Step on Pesticide Safety

Published

4 months ago

July 23, 2026

A three-day training with Mississippi State University aims to strengthen food safety controls and improve Nigeria’s prospects for agricultural exports

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, led by Director-General Professor Mojisola Adeyeye, has concluded a three-day capacity-building programme in Nigeria on Thursday, July 23, 2026, to strengthen pesticide residue risk assessment and improve the safety and export quality of Nigerian agricultural produce.

Also read: NAFDAC Clears BON Bread Over Viral Preservation Claim

The NAFDAC pesticide safety training, conducted in collaboration with Mississippi State University in the United States, focused on findings from a United States Department of Agriculture-sponsored research project examining pesticide residues in agricultural produce, with beans and sesame seeds used as case studies.

The initiative comes as Nigeria seeks to reinforce its food safety system and address longstanding concerns over pesticide residues that have affected the international marketability of some Nigerian agricultural commodities, particularly beans.

The training equipped NAFDAC personnel with skills in pesticide residue surveillance, laboratory analysis, food safety risk assessment, Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point procedures and evidence-based regulatory decision-making.

According to NAFDAC, the programme is part of its broader effort to ensure that food consumed domestically or exported from Nigeria meets international safety requirements while reducing potential health risks associated with excessive pesticide exposure.

Speaking at the opening ceremony on behalf of Adeyeye, NAFDAC’s Special Assistant to the Director-General in Lagos, Dr Gbenga Fajemirokun, said the research had offered important insight into the points at which pesticide residues can enter the food supply chain.

“The research identified Critical Control Points (CCPs) where pesticide residues enter the food value chain, enabling regulators to better detect and prevent contamination,” Fajemirokun said.

He added that the project builds on earlier studies carried out by NAFDAC and could strengthen regulatory oversight while supporting Nigeria’s agricultural export ambitions.

The agency said the research findings would help regulators develop more effective measures for identifying and controlling pesticide contamination, particularly in commodities with significant export potential.

The focus on beans carries particular significance. Nigeria’s dry bean exports have faced restrictions in European markets in the past following concerns about excessive pesticide residues.

The European Union imposed restrictions on Nigerian beans in 2015 after reported findings of dichlorvos residues above the applicable maximum residue limit, a development that prompted repeated calls for stronger controls across the food supply chain. (The Guardian Nigeria)

Although the current programme does not by itself lift any trade restriction, NAFDAC said the knowledge gained through the research and training could support efforts to improve compliance with international standards and strengthen the credibility of Nigerian agricultural produce in overseas markets.

The agency also stressed the importance of collaboration among regulators, researchers, development partners and agricultural stakeholders. Such cooperation, it said, would be essential to promoting responsible pesticide use, improving surveillance and protecting public health.

Representatives of Mississippi State University and the USDA, in separate goodwill messages, reportedly commended the partnership and encouraged participants to turn the research findings into practical regulatory measures.

The collaboration also reflects the wider importance of pesticide management to food safety. Mississippi State University’s agricultural extension programmes, for instance, provide pesticide safety education covering areas including proper handling, storage, application, environmental protection and record-keeping. (MSU Extension Service)

For Nigeria, the challenge extends beyond meeting export requirements. Effective pesticide regulation must also protect consumers at home, where food safety concerns can arise when agricultural chemicals are improperly selected, applied or used too close to harvest.

Research on grains sold in parts of southwestern Nigeria has previously reported pesticide residues exceeding maximum residue limits for some substances, underscoring the importance of sustained surveillance and stronger controls throughout the food chain.

Such findings, however, relate to specific studies and markets and should not be taken as evidence that all Nigerian agricultural produce is unsafe. (nrfhh.com)

NAFDAC’s latest intervention therefore places emphasis on prevention as well as enforcement, with the agency seeking to identify critical points of contamination before agricultural products reach consumers or international buyers.

For Nigerian farmers and exporters, the potential gains are significant. Better pesticide management and stronger regulatory systems could help improve confidence in locally produced commodities, support compliance with international requirements and strengthen the country’s position in competitive agricultural markets.

The agency said the ultimate goal remains to protect public health while ensuring that Nigerian food products can meet the safety standards expected in global markets.

As the country continues to pursue greater value from its agricultural sector, the success of such efforts will depend not only on regulatory training but also on how effectively research findings are translated into everyday practice by farmers, processors, traders, laboratories and regulators.

Also read: NAFDAC Arraigns Trader over Counterfeit Alcohol in Lagos

The latest NAFDAC pesticide safety training represents a positive step in that direction, linking scientific evidence with regulatory action at a time when food safety and export competitiveness are increasingly intertwined.

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Health

Severe Dehydration Can Cause Kidney Injury, Nephrologists Warn

Published

3 days ago

November 8, 2026

Mariam Balogun

Nephrologists have warned that severe dehydration can reduce blood flow to the kidneys and trigger acute kidney injury, urging Nigerians to maintain adequate fluid intake as the dry season approaches.

The specialists explained that dehydration occurs when the body loses more fluid than it takes in, particularly through excessive sweating, persistent diarrhoea, vomiting, severe bleeding and infections.

They warned that prolonged or rapid fluid loss could overwhelm the body’s natural mechanisms for conserving water, eventually affecting kidney function and potentially causing serious complications.

The experts gave the warning in separate interviews, advising Nigerians to drink potable water regularly, avoid indiscriminate use of medicines and seek prompt medical attention when experiencing persistent fluid loss or reduced urine output.

A Professor of Medicine at the Lagos State University College of Medicine, Ikeja, and immediate past President of the Nigerian Association of Nephrology, Prof. Jacob Awobusuyi, said severe dehydration could damage the kidneys by reducing the amount of blood reaching the organs.

He explained that the body continuously loses water through urination, sweating and breathing, making regular fluid replacement necessary to maintain normal body functions.

According to him, severe dehydration can occur when people lack access to potable water for several days, particularly in hot environments where sweating increases fluid loss.

He also identified severe diarrhoea and vomiting, including those associated with cholera, as possible causes of significant dehydration. Substantial blood loss following accidents can similarly reduce blood circulation to the kidneys.

Awobusuyi noted that reduced urine production could be an important warning sign that the kidneys were not functioning properly.

He explained that when kidney function becomes impaired, the organs may struggle to remove waste products from the blood, allowing harmful substances to accumulate and affect other parts of the body, including the brain and heart.

The nephrologist warned that serious complications could develop within three to four days in some cases, particularly when a person stops producing urine.

However, he cautioned that reduced urine output does not automatically indicate kidney injury, as the body naturally conserves water during hot weather, resulting in less frequent urination and darker, more concentrated urine.

He recommended that people with normally functioning kidneys take about two to three litres of water daily, while ensuring they replace fluids lost through physical activities and sweating.

Awobusuyi also advised Nigerians to limit their dependence on carbonated and sugary drinks, noting that they should not replace adequate water intake.

Similarly, a Consultant Physician and Nephrologist, Dr Zumnan Gimba, said inadequate fluid intake could prevent the kidneys from maintaining the body’s water balance and lead to acute kidney injury, particularly when dehydration was severe or occurred rapidly.

Gimba explained that acute kidney injury could be reversible when detected early and treated promptly, unlike chronic kidney disease, which may cause permanent damage.

He said it was difficult to determine the exact number of days a person could survive without water before developing kidney injury because the risk depended on the rate and severity of fluid loss.

The specialist identified young children and elderly people as particularly vulnerable to complications associated with dehydration.

He also listed persistent diarrhoea and vomiting, excessive sweating, burns, infections and certain medicines as factors that could contribute to fluid loss or kidney injury.

Gimba further warned that pregnant women experiencing persistent vomiting, pregnancy-related hypertension or severe bleeding during pregnancy and labour could face increased risks.

He advised Nigerians to respond to thirst by taking adequate fluids throughout the day, recommending close to three litres daily for adults, preferably water rather than sugary or carbonated drinks.

The nephrologist also warned that severe fluid loss could cause shock, a potentially life-threatening condition requiring urgent medical intervention.

When to seek medical attention

The specialists urged people experiencing persistent vomiting, severe diarrhoea, substantial bleeding or significantly reduced urine output to seek medical attention rather than rely on self-medication.

Acute kidney injury occurs when the kidneys suddenly lose some or most of their ability to filter waste products from the blood. Although some cases can be reversed with early treatment, delayed intervention may lead to serious complications.

According to medical guidance, untreated severe dehydration can cause acute kidney injury, electrolyte disturbances and circulatory shock.

The experts also advised people to avoid indiscriminate use of medicines, herbal preparations and supplements, some of which may contribute to kidney damage.

As temperatures rise during the dry season, they urged Nigerians to pay attention to their fluid needs, particularly those who work outdoors or engage in strenuous physical activities.

However, people living with kidney failure, heart conditions or other illnesses that require fluid restrictions should follow their doctors’ advice rather than automatically increase their water intake.