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NAFDAC has ordered agro-dealers to withdraw Sniper from open markets and supermarkets, in a bid to curb the high rate of suicides from the product. The agency pointed out that Sniper is not for households as it’s an agro-cultural product meant to be used in farms only. The order is, however, only a restriction of the use and availability of Sniper to farms alone, and not an outright ban of the product.
        The National Food, Drug Administration Control (NAFDAC) has ordered agro-dealers to withdraw popular agricultural pesticide, Sniper, from open markets and supermarkets, as more people continue to use the product to commit suicide across the country. The development was made public by NAFDAC’s director, Veterinary Medicine and Allied Products Directorate, Dr Bukar Usman, at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Ibadan on Wednesday, June 19, Leadership reports.  Usman, while speaking during the launch of Lifeline, a new herbicide for cassava farmers, pointed out that Sniper is not for households as it’s an agro-cultural product meant to be used in farms only. He implored manufacturers and dealers to cooperate with the agency to mop up the 100ml size of the product which were inexpensive and easy to acquire. Usman stressed that the order was a restriction of the use and availability of Sniper to farms alone, and not an outright ban of the product. He added that all agro-chemicals meant for farms should not be used in households. He said: “There are appropriate products for the control of mosquitoes and other household pests.”