Pesticide Resistance in Nigeria: Emerging Threats to Public Health, Food Security, and Ecosystem Services

Pesticide use in Nigeria has increased steadily in response to agricultural intensification, climate-driven pest pressure, and vector-borne disease control. However, inconsistent regulation, misuse, and heavy reliance on chemical pesticides have accelerated the emergence of resistance across agricultural pests, disease vectors, and weeds. This review synthesizes current evidence on pesticide use patterns, resistance mechanisms, environmental contamination, public-health risks, and implications for food security in Nigeria. A structured literature review was conducted using major academic databases and government reports published between 2000 and 2025. Findings show widespread detection of pesticide residues in cereals, legumes, water bodies, and fish, with several exceeding international maximum residue limits. Resistance in Anopheles, Aedes, Culex, Helicoverpa, Spodoptera, and stored-product beetles is now documented across multiple ecological zones, driven by metabolic detoxification, target-site mutations, behavioural avoidance, and cuticular barriers. Environmental impacts include biodiversity loss, soil degradation, aquatic toxicity, and bioaccumulation. Public-health consequences range from acute poisoning to chronic disorders affecting neurological, reproductive, endocrine, and metabolic systems. The review highlights regulatory gaps, economic losses from export bans, and the urgent need for integrated pest management, biopesticides, farmer training, residue monitoring, and national resistance-management programs. Coordinated, multi-sectoral interventions are essential to safeguard food systems, ecosystems, and public health.