El-Rufai demands clarification from NSA over alleged toxic chemical import

Former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has formally written to the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, requesting clarification over reports that the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) imported a highly toxic substance, thallium sulphate, into Nigeria.

In a letter dated January 30 and addressed to ONSA in Abuja, El-Rufai said he was seeking clarification and reassurance concerning information allegedly circulating among opposition leaders about the procurement of approximately 10 kilograms of thallium sulphate from a supplier in Poland.

He described thallium salts as extremely toxic and strictly regulated substances, stressing that any such importation raises serious concerns about public safety, democratic accountability, and public trust in national institutions.

The former governor requested detailed information about the purpose and intended use of the substance, the identity of the supplier, and whether the importation was carried out under an existing chemical or defence permit. He also sought clarification on the exact quantity, form, and concentration of the chemical, as well as how it was stored and secured upon arrival in Nigeria.

El-Rufai further asked whether relevant regulatory and public health agencies, including the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), were informed or involved in oversight. He inquired whether any public health risk assessments or hazard mitigation plans had been conducted, given the compound’s toxicity.

According to him, the inquiry was made in good faith to ensure transparency, adherence to due process, and compliance with safety standards. He added that public confidence in national institutions is strengthened when potential risks are openly addressed.

El-Rufai copied the letter to NAFDAC, NCDC, and the national chairmen of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Posting the letter on his X account on Sunday, he wrote: “As part of my duty as a citizen, I wrote to the NSA to seek clarification on reports about the importation by his office of thallium sulphate, a very dangerous toxin.

It is a matter of concern if anyone brings in any poison, especially an odourless and colourless one.”