The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has banned sales of agro- chemicals in the open markets, adding that this also extends to use of calcium carbides to ripen fruits.
The agency however, warned against use of agro-chemicals and snipers as insecticides at homes.
Phillip Benu, assistant director in NAFDAC disclosed this while speaking with journalists in Ilorin at the awareness campaign organised by the agency in conjunction with national Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members across Ilorin metropolis.
According to him, the agency embarks on the awareness campaign to sensitised the public against use of agro-chemicals, snipers and carbides because they are carcinogenic and can ultimately lead to death.
He says: “There have been instances where these chemicals have mistakenly dropped into foods of families which is fatal.
“We are sensitising the publics of the dangers of these chemicals as anybody without knowledge of their harmful effect can use them.”
Benu warned fruit sellers who use calcium carbides to ripen fruits should desist from doing so, as such chemicals are found to be carcinogenic.
The NAFDAC officials revealed that by January 2020, the agency will employ punitive measures on anybody found selling such chemicals in open markets.
Also speaking, Yusuf Abduljaleel, president of Drug Free and Quality Control of the NYSC, said there is need for people to know the dangers surrounding these chemicals especially snipers.
He observes that people were known to have used it to commit suicides, hence the need for its control.
According to him, many people are unaware that carbides is used to ripen fruits and thus endanger people’s lives.
The awareness includes campaign walks around Maraba, Post-office and market areas, and distribution of fliers with the inscriptions; “Say No to use of calcium carbides for fruit ripening”, Say No to use of Agro-chemical formulations of Dichloruns” and Say No to sale of snipers”, among others.
SIKIRAT SHEHU, Ilorin
