Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai, former governor of Kaduna State, has written to Nigeria’s National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, seeking clarification over what he described as a suspicious procurement of toxic chemicals by the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA).
According to a letter dated January 30, 2026, which he later made public on February 15, El-Rufai wrote that, based on information available to him, ONSA imported about 10 kilograms of thallium sulphate from a Polish supplier.
Thallium sulphate is a highly toxic compound historically used as a rodenticide but now banned or tightly regulated in many countries because of its health risks. Medical experts warn that exposure can result in serious neurological and systemic complications.
Six Questions to the Security Office
El-Rufai, now a member of the African Democratic Congress after leaving the All Progressives Congress, framed his inquiry as a transparency measure in the public interest. Writing on personal letterhead, he posed six questions to the National Security Adviser.
Among them:
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What was the intended purpose of the chemical?
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Who was the Polish supplier?
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Were proper regulatory permits obtained?
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How is the substance being stored?
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Was a public health risk assessment conducted?
He copied the letter to the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), citing their statutory roles in chemical regulation and public health oversight. Opposition party chairmen were also copied.
As of February 15, neither agency had issued a public response.
Political Context
The letter emerged amid heightened political exchanges between El-Rufai and federal authorities. The former governor is currently under investigation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) over alleged financial misconduct during his tenure as Kaduna governor from 2015 to 2023.
Days before releasing the letter publicly, El-Rufai stated that he had been stopped at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport on February 12. He attributed the incident to actions linked to the National Security Adviser, who is widely regarded as a close ally of President Bola Tinubu.
Observers note that relations between El-Rufai and the current administration have become strained in recent months, following his departure from the ruling party.
ONSA Denies Allegations
The Office of the National Security Adviser issued a formal denial, describing the claim as fabricated and stating that no thallium sulphate was ordered or received.
The office said it complies with all applicable regulatory procedures governing imports and dismissed the allegation as unfounded.
Public Reaction
El-Rufai’s decision to make the letter public drew significant attention online, with the post generating thousands of engagements within hours.
Reactions reflected Nigeria’s broader political divisions. Some users said the disclosure raised questions about oversight and transparency, while others expressed skepticism and referenced past disputes involving the former governor, including earlier criticisms from former President Olusegun Obasanjo.
The discussion also included broader conversations about regulatory safeguards and institutional accountability.
The allegations have also resurfaced memories of past episodes of political tension in Nigeria, including the 2006 killing of Lagos politician Funsho Williams, a case that heightened anxieties about political rivalry and security at the time. No court has established any connection between that incident and current political actors.
Unresolved Questions
At present, there has been no independent confirmation of the procurement claim. The Office of the National Security Adviser has formally denied the allegation.
El-Rufai made the letter public shortly after sending it, bringing the matter into wider public discussion before any official written response was issued.
For now, the issue remains a matter of public record and official denial. Any further clarification would depend on additional statements from the relevant authorities.
