Former Kaduna State Gov. Nasir El-Rufai has asked Nigeria’s national security adviser to clarify what he described as reports that the government planned to procure a highly toxic chemical, thallium sulphate, from Poland.
In a letter dated Jan. 30 and addressed to the Office of the National Security Adviser, El-Rufai said he was seeking “clarification and reassurance” over information available to opposition figures about the alleged purchase of about 10 kilograms of the substance. He posted a copy of the letter Sunday on his X account.
Thallium sulphate is a highly toxic compound historically used as a rodenticide and insecticide and is tightly regulated in many countries.
El-Rufai asked the national security adviser to clarify the intended purpose and end-use of the chemical, the identity of the supplier, whether due authorization was obtained, the quantity and concentration involved, storage arrangements and what regulatory oversight was in place with agencies including the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control and the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control.
He also asked whether any public health risk assessments or hazard mitigation plans had been developed, citing the compound’s extreme toxicity.
“I am writing as a concerned citizen,” he said in the letter, adding that transparency would strengthen public trust in national institutions. He said copies of the correspondence were sent to NAFDAC and the NCDC.
The Presidency rejected the claim, saying there was no government procurement or importation of thallium sulphate through the national security adviser’s office.
In a statement posted on X, presidential aide Temitope Ajayi said El-Rufai was “playing games” and alleged that he had already received a response from the national security adviser but chose not to release it.
Ajayi accused the former governor of attempting to create political tension and divert attention from corruption allegations he faces in Kaduna State. Lawmakers in the Kaduna State House of Assembly have petitioned anti-corruption agencies to investigate alleged mismanagement of 432 billion naira during his tenure. El-Rufai has not publicly responded in detail to the allegations.
The development comes as El-Rufai is expected to appear before the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission following an invitation from the agency. His lawyer, Ubong Esop Akpan, said he would honor the invitation. El-Rufai also said he had been invited by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission and would appear later in the week.
The former governor returned to Nigeria from Egypt on Thursday and alleged in a television interview that there had been plans to arrest him at Abuja’s Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport. He claimed he learned of the alleged plan through a leaked conversation involving the national security adviser, an assertion the government has not publicly addressed.
A coalition of civic groups in Kaduna on Sunday criticized El-Rufai’s claims, describing them as reckless and capable of causing public panic. The group said allegations involving national security should be backed by credible evidence and handled through appropriate institutional channels.
As of the time of filing this report, the Office of the National Security Adviser had not publicly responded to El-Rufai’s letter.
