Nigeria’s Agriculture and Pesticide Registration Overview

The Federal Republic of Nigeria is located in southeastern West Africa, bordering the Gulf of Guinea to the south, Niger to the north, Benin to the west, Cameroon to the east, and Chad across Lake Chad to the northeast. Nigeria is Africa’s most populous nation with a 2023 population of about 224 million (around 18% of Sub-Saharan Africa). It is also Africa’s largest economy, with a 2023 GDP of USD 550.65 billion. As of June 2024, Nigeria is China’s 2nd largest export market in Africa, 3rd largest trading partner, top contracting project market, and a major investment destination.
This article summarizes Nigeria’s agricultural production and pesticide registration.

1) Agricultural Production in Nigeria

• Land & arable area: Total land area 923,800 km²; arable land (incl. fallow) >40.5 million ha (~43.84%).
• Economic role: Agriculture contributes ~25% of GDP; 65% of the population engages in farming; 70% of economic activity depends on agriculture; 90% of livelihoods are agriculture-related.
• Cropping zones:
  • North: sorghum, millet, maize, wheat
  • Central/South: rice, cassava
• Trade pattern: Nigeria remains a net food importer—major imports include rice и хлопок; notable exports include cassava, cocoa, и cashew.

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2) Pesticide Import & Export (2022)

Imports (USD 462 million total)

Main partners:

• China: USD 404M
• India: USD 38.3M
• Belgium: USD 3.93M
• UAE: USD 2.63M
• Germany: USD 1.63M

Fastest YoY growth (2021→2022):

• China: +USD 60.7M
• India: +USD 11.9M
• Belgium: +USD 3.18M

Exports (USD 18.1 million total)

Top destinations:

• Côte d’Ivoire: USD 11.1M
• Ghana: USD 4.82M
• Türkiye: USD 0.465M
• Mexico: USD 0.409M
• Gabon: USD 0.313M

Fastest YoY growth (2021→2022):

• Ghana: +USD 0.561M
• Mexico: +USD 0.203M
• Niger: +USD 0.697M

3) Pesticide Registration in Nigeria

Regulator: NAFDAC — National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control.
Key legislation:

• Drugs and Related Products (Registration, etc.) Regulations (1996)
• Pesticide Registration Regulations (2005)
• Pesticide Registration Regulations (2021)

3.1 Required documents (per 2021 Regulations)

1. Application form
2. Original product analysis report
3. Evidence of radiological safety testing
4. For imports: certificate of manufacture and free sale from the competent authority of the country of origin
5. Sample labels
6. Chemical dossier, including: composition, nominal concentration, physico-chemical properties, and validated analytical methods for each toxicologically significant active ingredient, impurity or inert
7. Additional data, where applicable:
   • Экологическая судьба
   • Деградация
   • Plant and animal metabolism
   • Mobility/stability
   • Bioaccumulation
   • Hazards to humans/livestock
   • Acute/sub-chronic/chronic toxicity (oral, dermal, inhalation)
   • Teratogenicity/reproductive studies
   • Mutagenicity
   • Effects on non-target organisms (e.g., birds, fish)
   • Product performance, including efficacy trials conducted in Nigeria

Source: Pesticide Registration Regulations, 2021 (FAOLEX PDF provided in your note).

3.2 Procedural notes (from NAFDAC guidelines)

1. All applications must be submitted via the NAFDAC Automated Product Administration and Monitoring System (NAPAMS) portal.
2. Product analysis reports must be on the official letterhead of the QC laboratory that tested the sample and include: brand name, batch number, manufacturing date, expiry date, analyst’s name, position, and signature.
3. Failure to respond to NAFDAC queries within 90 working days results in application termination.
4. Indicative timeline: approximately 120 working days from application acceptance to issuance of the registration number.
5. Certificate validity: 5 years.
6. Banned in Nigeria: Паракват, Хлорпирифос, Атразин.

Sources:
• Guidelines for the Registration of Pesticides made in Nigeria (NAFDAC)
• Guidelines for Registration of Imported Pesticides in Nigeria (NAFDAC)
(Links provided in your original text.)

Notes for Applicants

• Plan local efficacy trials early (Nigeria-based data is required).
• Ensure dossiers meet токсикология и environmental evidence standards.
• Maintain strict label compliance with Nigerian requirements.
• Keep internal trackers for NAFDAC queries to avoid the 90-day lapse.
• Budget timeline: allow ~6 months for evaluation, plus time for data gap closure.