El-Rufai Writes NSA Over Alleged Procurement of Toxic Chemical
Former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El‑Rufai has formally written to Nuhu Ribadu, the National
Security Adviser (NSA), seeking clarification over reports that the Office of the National Security
Adviser (ONSA) procured a highly toxic chemical substance, thallium sulphate, in what has
become a subject of public concern and debate in Abuja.
In a letter dated January 30, 2026 and addressed to the NSA’s office, El-Rufai said he was
acting as a concerned citizen and requested detailed explanations about reports circulating
among political opposition leaders that ONSA had allegedly imported approximately 10
kilograms of thallium sulphate from a supplier in Poland. He shared the correspondence publicly
on Sunday via his verified X (formerly Twitter) account.
Thallium sulphate is known to be highly toxic and tightly regulated, and El-Rufai said the
reported procurement raised serious questions around public safety, transparency and
democratic accountability.
In his letter, he asked the NSA to clarify the intended purpose and end-use of the substance,
whether its importation was authorised under the appropriate chemical, defence or regulatory
permits, and the identity of the supplier.
He also requested information on storage arrangements, oversight by agencies such as the
National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and the Nigeria
Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), and whether public-health risk assessments or hazard-
mitigation plans had been put in place given the compound’s extreme toxicity.
“I want to stress that this inquiry is made in good faith, solely to ensure that due processes,
safety standards and transparency are observed,” El-Rufai wrote, adding that public confidence
in national institutions is strengthened when potential risks are openly addressed and managed.
Copies of the correspondence were also shared with the directors-general of NAFDAC and
NCDC, as well as national leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and the
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The letter comes amid heightened political tensions and disputes between El-Rufai and federal
authorities. In a recent interview on Arise Television, El-Rufai claimed that he learned of an
alleged attempt to arrest him at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, linked to the NSA,
a claim that has drawn criticism and requires separate verification.
As of the time of reporting, the Office of the National Security Adviser has not issued an official
response to El-Rufai’s letter or the points of clarification he has sought.
By Oyinkansola Shittu.
