The Executive Director, Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF), Nnimmo Bassey, has warned that indiscriminate use of pesticides poses grave danger to Nigerians’ right to not only clean and healthy environment, but also safe food.
Speaking recently at HOMEF’s Training for Legal Practitioners and Rights Groups held in Abuja, Bassey noted that while pesticides have undoubtedly played a role in improving agricultural productivity, authorities should not overlook the hazards that come with their use.
Bassey noted that due to poor regulation and management, pesticides usage have had devastating consequences for human and environmental health and by extension, human rights.
According to him, pesticides are designed to kill or control pests that can damage crops, spread diseases, or harm the environment.
“The use of pesticides has dire consequences for our right to life and health. Many pesticides are highly hazardous and cause acute and chronic health problems when people are exposed to them. Pesticides have been linked to a wide range of health issues, including cancers, neurological disorders, reproductive problems, and diverse ways of poisoning of farmworkers.
“The impact of pesticides extends to our right to food and food sovereignty. While pesticides are used to protect crops, their residues can end up in the food we consume, posing health risks. The presence of pesticide residues in our food can lead to food safety issues, undermining our right to access safe and nutritious food, particularly for those already struggling with food insecurity. Excessive pesticide residue in our food products currently affects our exports as these products are rightly rejected in international markets. Besides, pesticides also kill non-targeted species, and this has damaging impacts on the webs of life.
“Our right to participation and information is also at stake when it comes to pesticides. Many individuals and communities affected by highly hazardous pesticides lack access to crucial information about the chemicals being used near their homes or the potential health risks they face. This lack of information hampers their ability to make informed decisions about their environment and well-being,” he said.
He therefore calls on the government to enact and enforce stricter regulations on the use of pesticides, with a focus on protecting human health and the environment.
