FUTA Don Raises Alarm Over Use of Banned Chemicals as Pesticides
Professor Rex Aladesanwa of FUTA has raised concerns about the use of banned chemicals for pest control in Nigeria. During an inaugural lecture, he urged the government to remove these chemicals from circulation and recommended stricter regulations on pesticide storage and sales.
Chris Oyeoku Okafor 
Professor Rex Aladesanwa, an expert in Chemical Weed Control and Plant Protection, has raised concerns about the widespread use of banned chemicals for pest control in Nigeria. Speaking during the 169th inaugural lecture at the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA) on July 9th, 2024, Aladesanwa identified chemicals such as paraquat, parathion, and methyl parathion, which are still being sold openly and used by farmers despite being prohibited. He urged the government to remove these banned substances from circulation as outlined in the eleventh schedule of the Federal Ministry of Environment's pest control policy guidelines.
Aladesanwa, a well-published researcher in international journals on topics like herbicide residue evaluation and integrated pest management, recommended that only licensed dealers should be allowed to store and sell pesticides to mitigate hazards. He stressed that pesticides must be stored securely and sold only to adults, with packaging and labeling adhering to regulations to avoid license withdrawal.
Highlighting the global food crisis, Aladesanwa emphasized the responsible use of herbicides and pesticides to enhance agricultural productivity. He pointed out that weeds significantly reduce crop yields, depriving crops of essential resources and resulting in substantial annual food losses.
Citing the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), he noted that while developed countries use herbicides and machinery for weed management, farmers in developing nations spend over 40% of their labor on hand-weeding, limiting their productivity and socio-economic development. He advocated for efficient weed management methods to achieve optimal crop yields.
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Aladesanwa also discussed the classification and application of herbicides, stressing the importance of selecting pesticides with lower toxicity and preventing resistance through rotation of active ingredients. He called for transferring the enforcement of public health pest control standards from the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) to the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) to ensure compliance with FAO standards.
The Vice Chancellor of FUTA, Professor Adenike Oladiji, praised Aladesanwa as an erudite scholar who has significantly contributed to knowledge and research over his 30-year career. She highlighted the lecture's focus on the benefits and limitations of herbicide use for weed control and its implications for improving food production to combat hunger.
