LAGOS/Nigeria: Stakeholders in Nigeria’s pest management and public health sectors have raised alarm over the growing threat pests pose to national health and food security, calling for urgent investment in sustainable pest and vector control practices.
The warning came during the Pest Management Conference held in Lagos on July 24, which brought together experts, government officials, and environmental practitioners under the theme “Advancing Public Health Through Sustainable Pest and Vector Management Practices.”
Convened by PCO Fortune Oluleye, Founder and CEO of DFortune and PestShop.ng, the event sought to shift national focus from reactive healthcare to proactive environmental and disease prevention strategies.
“While we invest in hospitals and medications, we ignore the root causes—mosquitoes, rats, cockroaches. Pest management is not just about sanitation; it’s about prevention, sustainability, and saving lives,” Oluleye said.
He highlighted the massive post-harvest losses in Nigeria due to pest infestation, which he described as a silent but critical contributor to food insecurity and economic decline. He urged for environmentally responsible pest control methods that protect both food systems and ecosystems.
Delivering a goodwill message, PCO Kunle Williams, National President of the Pest Control Association of Nigeria (PECAN), echoed the urgency of the moment, warning that pests remain major drivers of deadly diseases like malaria and Lassa fever, and pose continuous threats to homes, markets, and farms.
“This conference is vital to our national wellbeing. Pest control is a pillar of public health, and we must treat it as such,” Williams said.
He decried the rising menace of quack operators in the pest control industry, calling for stricter regulation, standardized training, and industry-wide collaboration to rid the sector of malpractice.
“We urge all pest control operators to register with PECAN to ensure professional conduct and benefit from technical training and development,” he added.
The conference also featured technical sessions, exhibitions of eco-friendly pest solutions, and networking forums aimed at deepening inter-agency cooperation.
Attendees included licensed pest control professionals, environmental officers, public health workers, educators, and representatives from key regulatory bodies.
The event ended with a collective resolution to strengthen the regulatory framework, enhance training across the industry, and adopt preventive, sustainable pest control practices that safeguard human health and the environment.
