Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai has raised a significant alarm regarding national security and public safety, accusing the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), led by Nuhu Ribadu, of importing a highly toxic chemical known as thallium sulfate. In a post on his X handle on Sunday, February 15, 2026, he shared a formal letter where he addressed to the NSA, demanding immediate clarification on the reported procurement of approximately 10 kilograms of the substance from a supplier in Poland. He expressed grave concern over the nature of the chemical, describing it as an “odourless, colourless” poison that poses a severe risk to citizens if not strictly regulated.
El-Rufai’s intervention is framed as an act of “citizen duty,” though he noted that the information regarding the shipment originated from the leadership of the political opposition. In his letter, the former governor highlighted the extreme toxicity of thallium salts, which were historically used as rodenticides but have been banned in many countries due to their lethal effect on humans and the environment.
He raised several pointed questions for the ONSA, like; What is the specific end-use for such a large quantity of a tightly controlled toxin? Was the importation coordinated with the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC)? What are the specific storage and security arrangements to prevent accidental exposure or intentional misuse? Has a public-health hazard-mitigation plan been developed to address the potential dangers of this substance?
The allegation introduces a new and tense dimension to the relationship between El-Rufai and the current administration’s security apparatus. While thallium sulfate does have legitimate industrial applications, such as in the manufacturing of specialized optical glass, infrared equipment, and certain electronic components, its history as a difficult-to-detect poison has led to its strict control globally.
El-Rufai emphasized that “public safety, democratic accountability and trust in national institutions” make it imperative for the federal government to explain why the ONSA is allegedly handling such a substance directly.
