Environmentalist raises concerns over poor regulation, management of pesticides

By Usman Aliyu

A renowned environmentalist, Nnimmo Bassey has raised concerns over the poor regulation and management of pesticides in Nigeria.

Bassey raised the concerns during a training organised by the Home of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF) International for Legal Practitioners and Rights Groups in Abuja.

In a statement issued on Wednesday in Benin by Kome Odhomo, Media/Communications Lead, HOMEF International, Bassey said due to the poor regulation and management, pesticides were having devastating consequences for human and environmental health.

“This is a critical moment for us to examine a critical issue that not only affects our environment and our health but also our fundamental human rights – our right to life and health; our right to a healthy environment; our right to food and food sovereignty and our right to participation and information.

“Pesticides are designed to kill or control pests that can damage crops, spread diseases, or harm the environment. While they have undoubtedly played a role in improving agricultural productivity, we must not overlook the hazards that come with their use.

“The use of pesticides has dire consequences for our right to life and health. Many pesticides are highly hazardous and cause acute and chronic health problems when people are exposed to them.

“Pesticides have been linked to a wide range of health issues, including cancers, neurological disorders, reproductive problems, and diverse ways of poisoning of farmworkers.

“An important example that we cannot forget in a hurry is the pesticide poisoning in 2020 which took the lives of nearly 270 people in Benue State where their water source was contaminated with Endosulphan,” he said.

The environmentalist, who is the Executive Director of the HOMEF International said these impacts were disproportionately affecting vulnerable communities, including agricultural workers, who often lacked the necessary protection and awareness of the risks associated with exposure to pesticides.

“Our right to a clean and healthy environment, a fundamental human right, is also under threat from the indiscriminate use of pesticides.

“Pesticides contaminate soil, water, and air, affecting ecosystems and wildlife. The loss of biodiversity and the contamination of natural resources undermine our capacity to sustain life on this planet, affecting the rights of present and future generations.

“It directly negates basic rights such as the right to a satisfactory environment as enshrined in article 24 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights,” the director said.

He called for empowerment of Agricultural workers with the knowledge and tools to protect themselves from pesticide exposure.

“We need to urgently empower and revive our extension service system such that farmers in local communities are equipped with the right knowledge.

“The wider public must be informed of the highly hazardous pesticides, including the types, quantities, and locations,” he said. (NAN)