There is a group of influential
scientists and journalists who have been set up to support efforts for the
protection of toxic herbicides in Nigeria to combat paraquat imports and use.
scientists and journalists who have been set up to support efforts for the
protection of toxic herbicides in Nigeria to combat paraquat imports and use.
Nine scientists and media
practitioners with a strong experience in advocacy and a deep understanding of
paraquat comprise the coalition known as the Coalition against Paraquat (CAP).
practitioners with a strong experience in advocacy and a deep understanding of
paraquat comprise the coalition known as the Coalition against Paraquat (CAP).
The principal role is to act as
watchdog and promote advocacy, while supporting the National Agency for the
Administration and Control of Food and Drugs, Professor Johnson Ekpere
(NAFDAC), to implement his paraquat deregistration plans.
watchdog and promote advocacy, while supporting the National Agency for the
Administration and Control of Food and Drugs, Professor Johnson Ekpere
(NAFDAC), to implement his paraquat deregistration plans.
A phased paraquat phase-out program
has recently been released by NAFDAC. The NAFDAC Director of Vet and Allied
Products, Dr Bukar Usman, who announced the plan, has revealed that paraquat
has been stopped by the agency and that it could only have two years, rather
than 5 years, already under way.
has recently been released by NAFDAC. The NAFDAC Director of Vet and Allied
Products, Dr Bukar Usman, who announced the plan, has revealed that paraquat
has been stopped by the agency and that it could only have two years, rather
than 5 years, already under way.
The renewal of the registration of the
drug is no longer being pursued by NAFDAC, with a complete ban concluded by
2024, “he said last year.
drug is no longer being pursued by NAFDAC, with a complete ban concluded by
2024, “he said last year.
The team also aims to “contribute
to awareness-raising and advocacy; help create target data kits and work with
influencers in public and private sector and opinion leaders to ensure they are
adopted.
to awareness-raising and advocacy; help create target data kits and work with
influencers in public and private sector and opinion leaders to ensure they are
adopted.
Members of the coalition include Prof.
Ekpere, former Executive Secretary, Scientific, Technical and Research
Commission of the Organization of African Unity (OAU/STRC), now African Union
(AU); Prof. Mohammed Kuta Yahaya, a professor of Agricultural Extension &
Development Communication, Consultant/ Expert in Strategic Communication &
Citizens Engagement and a former Secretary to Niger State Government; Ms Ayoola
Kassim, an award-winning producer at Channels Television; Prof. Simon Irtwange,
Chairman, Technical Committee on Nigeria Yam Export Programme, Federal Ministry
of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD), Abuja and Prof. Lateef Sanni,
President, International Society for Tropical Root Crops (ISTRC).
Ekpere, former Executive Secretary, Scientific, Technical and Research
Commission of the Organization of African Unity (OAU/STRC), now African Union
(AU); Prof. Mohammed Kuta Yahaya, a professor of Agricultural Extension &
Development Communication, Consultant/ Expert in Strategic Communication &
Citizens Engagement and a former Secretary to Niger State Government; Ms Ayoola
Kassim, an award-winning producer at Channels Television; Prof. Simon Irtwange,
Chairman, Technical Committee on Nigeria Yam Export Programme, Federal Ministry
of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD), Abuja and Prof. Lateef Sanni,
President, International Society for Tropical Root Crops (ISTRC).
Other members include: Prof. Udensi
Udensi, a weed scientist and agronomist at the University of Port Harcourt,
Rivers State; Ms. Grace Yusuf, Deputy Editor-In-Chief in charge of the
Agriculture and Environment Desk of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN); Prof.
M.G.M. Kolo, President, Weed Science Society of Nigeria (WSSN) and Prof.
Ademola Ladele, Professor of Agricultural Extension, University of Ibadan with
experience in Advocacy and Policy, Extension Models and Group Dynamics.
Udensi, a weed scientist and agronomist at the University of Port Harcourt,
Rivers State; Ms. Grace Yusuf, Deputy Editor-In-Chief in charge of the
Agriculture and Environment Desk of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN); Prof.
M.G.M. Kolo, President, Weed Science Society of Nigeria (WSSN) and Prof.
Ademola Ladele, Professor of Agricultural Extension, University of Ibadan with
experience in Advocacy and Policy, Extension Models and Group Dynamics.
The call for the deregistration of
paraquat heightened December last year when commissioners of agriculture,
permanent secretaries of agriculture ministries and programme managers of
Agricultural Development Programmes (ADPs) in the country gathered at a meeting
held at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Ibadan, and
urged NAFDAC to put the product out of the Nigerian market, maintaining that
concerns being raised about the product were too grave to be ignored.
paraquat heightened December last year when commissioners of agriculture,
permanent secretaries of agriculture ministries and programme managers of
Agricultural Development Programmes (ADPs) in the country gathered at a meeting
held at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Ibadan, and
urged NAFDAC to put the product out of the Nigerian market, maintaining that
concerns being raised about the product were too grave to be ignored.
Weed experts, led by the Weed Science
Society of Nigeria, (WSSN), have added their voice to their appeals,
emphasizing that healthy and successful alternatives were available from their
47th Annual Meeting.
Society of Nigeria, (WSSN), have added their voice to their appeals,
emphasizing that healthy and successful alternatives were available from their
47th Annual Meeting.
Weed experts, led by the Weed Science
Society of Nigeria, (WSSN), rising from their 47th Annual Conference, also
added their voice to the calls, emphasizing that healthy and effective
alternatives to paraquat were abound.
Society of Nigeria, (WSSN), rising from their 47th Annual Conference, also
added their voice to the calls, emphasizing that healthy and effective
alternatives to paraquat were abound.
