The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control has concluded a three-day capacity-building programme for its staff on pesticide residue risk assessment, in a move aimed at strengthening food safety regulation and improving the quality of Nigerian agricultural produce.
The training, conducted in collaboration with Mississippi State University, United States, focused on the findings of a United States Department of Agriculture-sponsored research project titled “Risk Assessment of Pesticide Residues in Agricultural Produce Using Beans and Sesame Seeds in Nigeria as a Case Study.”
According to the agency, the training is also to enhance Nigeria’s export competitiveness and support the lifting of restrictions imposed on Nigerian beans in international markets over concerns about pesticide residues.
The initiative comes as Nigeria continues efforts to strengthen its food safety system, improve compliance with international standards and enhance the export potential of locally produced agricultural commodities, particularly beans, which have faced restrictions in some international markets over concerns about pesticide residues.
In a statement issued on Thursday, NAFDAC said the programme equipped participants with skills in pesticide residue surveillance, laboratory analysis, food safety risk assessment, Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point, and evidence-based regulatory decision-making.
The agency explained that the programme forms part of its broader commitment to ensuring that food products consumed locally and exported from Nigeria meet global safety standards while protecting consumers from the health risks associated with excessive pesticide residues.
Speaking at the opening ceremony on behalf of the Director-General of NAFDAC, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, the Special Assistant to the DG (Lagos), Dr Gbenga Fajemirokun, said the research had provided valuable insights into how pesticide residues enter the food supply chain.
Fajemirokun added that the project builds on previous studies conducted by the agency and would strengthen regulatory oversight while supporting Nigeria’s agricultural exports.
“The research identified Critical Control Points (CCPs) where pesticide residues enter the food value chain, enabling regulators to better detect and prevent contamination.
“He noted that the initiative builds on previous NAFDAC studies and is expected to strengthen regulatory measures, improve the safety of agricultural produce, and enhance Nigeria’s export competitiveness, particularly in supporting efforts to lift restrictions on Nigerian beans in international markets”, the statement partly read.
According to the agency, the training also underscored the need for stronger collaboration among regulators, researchers, development partners and agricultural stakeholders to promote the safe use of pesticides and protect public health.
NAFDAC said representatives of Mississippi State University and the USDA, in separate goodwill messages, praised the partnership and urged participants to apply the knowledge gained from the research to strengthen food safety regulation in Nigeria.
“Goodwill messages from representatives of Mississippi State University and the USDA commended the partnership and encouraged participants to translate the research findings into practical regulatory actions that will improve pesticide management, strengthen food safety surveillance, and safeguard consumers across Nigeria”, the statement added.
