El-Rufai seeks NSA clarification on poisonous chemical procurement

A former governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, has requested the Workplace of the National Security Adviser to make clear what he described as data out there to opposition figures concerning the alleged procurement of a poisonous chemical substance.

In a letter dated January 30, 2026 and addressed to the National Security Adviser in Abuja, El-Rufai mentioned he was looking for “clarification and reassurance” over studies that the workplace deliberate to acquire thallium sulphate from overseas.

El-Rufai posted a replica of the letter on his official X deal with on Sunday.

The previous governor famous that the substance is thought to be harmful and tightly regulated, stressing the necessity for transparency.

“I’m writing as a involved citizen to hunt clarification and reassurance concerning data out there to the political opposition management a few procurement of roughly 10 kilograms of Thallium Sulphate by the Workplace of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), reportedly from a provider in Poland.

“On condition that thallium salts are extremely poisonous and tightly managed substances, I imagine it will be important – for public security, democratic accountability and for sustaining public belief – to substantiate the next particulars”, the letter partly learn.

He listed six areas the place he desires explanations, together with “the meant objective and end-use of the imported thallium sulphate, the id of the provider and whether or not the importation adopted due authorisation, the amount and focus concerned, storage preparations, and the regulatory oversight and coordination in place with NAFDAC, NCDC, and related public-health and environmental businesses.”

El-Rufai additionally requested, “whether or not any public-health danger assessments or hazard-mitigation plans have been developed, given the compound’s excessive toxicity.”

Whereas emphasising that the request was not made in dangerous religion, he argued that openness would strengthen belief in public establishments.

He additional requested continued engagement from the safety workplace.

“I need to stress that this inquiry is made in good religion, solely to make sure that due processes, security requirements, and transparency are noticed.

“Public confidence within the integrity of nationwide establishments is strengthened when potential dangers are overtly addressed and managed.

“If attainable, I might recognize a response or a degree of contact inside your workplace for additional engagement to reassure these of us which might be Nigerian residents in opposition,” the letter added.

For completeness, he mentioned copies of the correspondence had been despatched to different related authorities.

“For completeness, I’m copying this correspondence to NAFDAC and the Nigeria Centre for Illness Management (NCDC), each of which play important roles in chemical security and public-health preparedness,” he mentioned.

PidomNigeria On-line studies that the event comes amid a current try by safety operatives to arrest him at Nnamdi Azikiwe Worldwide Airport, Abuja.

Recall that El-Rufai, in an interview on Come up TV on Friday, claimed that he learnt of an alleged plan to arrest him upon his return to the nation on Thursday by way of a leaked dialog from the NSA’s telephone.

“Ribadu made the decision as a result of we listened to their calls. The federal government thinks that they’re the one ones that hearken to calls. However we even have our methods. He made the decision. He gave the order that they need to arrest me”, he mentioned within the interview.

This additionally comes amid heightened debate about election cycles, nationwide safety administration and the position of oversight establishments, with opposition actors regularly demanding higher transparency from federal authorities on delicate procurements.

As of the time of submitting this report, the NSA’s workplace had not publicly responded to the letter.