Nigeria’s sesame exports are booming.
But there is a problem the country cannot ignore.
Despite generating more than ₦1 trillion from sesame exports in 2024 and ranking among the world’s top exporters, Nigerian sesame continues to face repeated rejection in international markets over safety and quality concerns.
Now, export authorities are sounding the alarm.
The Nigerian Export Promotion Council, NEPC, says poor farming practices, dangerous chemical use and contamination are damaging Nigeria’s reputation abroad and costing exporters millions.
Speaking at a sesame stakeholders’ training programme in Kano on Wednesday, North-West NEPC Coordinator, Hajiya Amina Abdulmalik, said many farmers unknowingly destroy the export value of their produce through unsafe practices.
One of the biggest problems, she revealed, is the use of paraquat — a controversial chemical drying agent — directly on sesame seeds to speed up drying before sale.
International buyers, however, are rejecting the products after detecting harmful chemical residues.
“Even if they think nothing happens to them, international buyers reject it,” Abdulmalik said.
“We must change this mindset and produce sesame that is safe for both local consumption and export.”
₦1 trillion exports, but rising rejection
Sesame, also known locally as beneseed, ranked as Nigeria’s third most exported agricultural product in 2025, with about 338,000 metric tonnes shipped globally.
Nigeria is currently the fourth largest sesame exporter in the world.
Yet, despite the huge export earnings, consignments from Nigeria continue to face rejection over pesticide contamination, poor post-harvest handling and failure to meet sanitary standards required by international markets.
Industry experts warn that the problem is no longer about quantity — but quality.
“If the Western international market can reject it, why should we eat it?” Abdulmalik asked.
“Let’s produce what they can eat, and we too should be able to eat it.”
Farmers blamed for poor handling
Also speaking at the training, retired KNARDA Deputy Director Ibrahim Umar Halilu said many Nigerian farmers fail to follow basic agronomic and storage procedures.
According to him, contamination often happens during planting, harvesting, storage and transportation.
“Some contaminate it with inert materials or misuse pesticides, and these lapses make our sesame fall short of global standards,” he said.
Halilu added that Nigerian sesame has become one of the most frequently flagged products globally because many producers ignore internationally approved farming methods.
Race to save Nigeria’s export reputation
The NEPC says the latest training programme is part of efforts to help farmers adopt Good Agricultural Practices, GAPs, that meet premium international standards.
Officials believe improving quality compliance could significantly increase export earnings, reduce rejection rates and strengthen Nigeria’s position in the global sesame market.
“Our goal is simple,” Abdulmalik said.
“To help farmers produce cleaner, safer sesame that commands better prices and passes international inspections without hindrance. When farmers earn more, Nigeria earns more.”