Nigeria Bans Popular Herbicide Paraquat Known As “Gramazol”

The Nigerian government, through the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), has implemented a ban on the widely used herbicide Paraquat. (Gramazol)

This decision stems from its high toxicity to both humans and the environment. Paraquat acts swiftly on a broad spectrum of weeds in crops, but its entry into the body through ingestion, inhalation, or damaged skin poses significant risks.

Exposure to Paraquat can result in various adverse effects, including burns in the mouth, respiratory distress, loss of appetite, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, headache, fever, muscle pain, lethargy, shortness of breath, and even acute or chronic poisoning, including potential harm to fetal development and rapid heartbeat.

This ban is in response to the herbicide’s potential to contaminate water sources and its prolonged persistence in soil due to misuse and abuse. NAFDAC’s role is to ensure the safe and responsible use of agrochemicals, thereby permitting only high-quality, effective, and safe products to be registered. This measure has led to the prohibition of Paraquat’s use in Nigeria.