Former Kaduna State Governor Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai has called on the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), headed by Nuhu Ribadu, to clarify reports alleging that the agency procured thallium sulphate,sulfate, a highly toxic chemical compound.
El-Rufai made the claim public on Sunday via a post on X, where he shared a copy of a letter addressed to the National Security Adviser’s office in Abuja.
According to him, the request for clarification was prompted by reports suggesting that ONSA imported approximately 10 kilograms of thallium sulfate from a supplier in Poland. He described the substance as a tightly controlled and extremely dangerous toxin, stressing that its alleged procurement raises serious public safety concerns.
“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 sulfate, a very dangerous toxin. It’s a matter of concern if anyone brings in any poison, more so an odorless, colorless one,” he wrote.
In the letter, El-Rufai urged the office to disclose the intended purpose and end-use of the chemical, the identity of the supplier, and whether the importation was carried out under the appropriate chemical or defense permits. He also sought information on the specific quantity, form, or concentration of the substance procured, as well as the storage and security measures in place following its arrival.
The former governor further requested details regarding regulatory oversight, including any coordination with the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC). He asked whether public health risk assessments or hazard mitigation plans had been developed in relation to the alleged importation.
“I am writing as a concerned citizen to seek clarification and reassurance regarding information available to the political opposition leadership about a procurement of approximately 10 kilograms of Thallium Sulphate by the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), reportedly from a supplier in Poland,” part of the letter read.
