An NGO known as Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF), on Wednesday joined other stakeholders in warning against the harmful usage of pesticides to safeguard public health in the country.
Mr Nnimmo Bassey, Director, HOMEF stated this at a dialogue in Abuja with decision makers on hazards of pesticides and the need for a holistic food policy for the country.
“Many of the pesticides used by Nigerian farmers contain active ingredients linked to cancer or proven to be carcinogenic, including Glyphosate, Atrazine, Butachlor, Chlorpyrifos, Dichlorvos (DDVP), Endosulfan and Mancozeb.
“Farmers have reported health problems like difficulty in breathing, dizziness, headaches, nausea, vomiting, eye problems, skin rashes, catarrh, acute diarrhea, and respiratory problems that are linked with their use of pesticides.
“In addition to the deleterious human and environmental health impacts, the dependence of inorganic pesticides in Nigeria has serious implications on our economy,” Bassey warned.
He emphasized that shockingly, up to 80 per cent of the pesticides used in Nigeria are classified as Highly Hazardous Pesticides (HHPS) and 40 per cent of those produced in the country have been banned in European countries.
“One of the most concerning aspects of pesticide use is the impact on the environment with their ability to leach into soil and contaminate groundwater, leading to long-term damage to ecosystems.
“Destruction of beneficial insects, disruption of pollination, and damage to soil microorganisms that are vital for maintaining healthy soils.
“The indiscriminate use of pesticides has led to the emergence of resistant pest populations, which further escalates the need for stronger chemicals and intensifies the cycle of destruction,” the director said.
He said that the consequences of pesticide exposure on human health could not be overlooked in Nigeria, noting that pesticide poisoning has become a regular occurrence.
“The export markets are closing against us because of pesticide residues above allowable standards.There is also the wrong notion of over-emphasis on food security at the expense of food sovereignty.
