El-Rufai questions NSA over alleged 10kg thallium sulphate import from Poland
Nasir El-Rufai
Abdullateef Fowewe
Former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai has ignited public concern by disclosing a letter he sent on January 30, 2026, to Nigeria’s National Security Adviser (NSA), Major General Mohammed Monguno (retd.), questioning the reported importation of 10kg of thallium sulphate from Poland by the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA).
In the letter, shared on X (formerly Twitter) on Sunday, El-Rufai pressed for critical details, “I seek clarification on the purpose of this importation, the storage arrangements, and the risk assessments conducted to ensure public safety.”
He captioned the post, “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 sulphate, a very dangerous toxin.
“It’s a matter of concern if anyone brings in any poison, more so an odourless, colourless one.”
Thallium sulphate, a colorless and odorless compound once used as a rodenticide, has been banned in many countries due to its extreme toxicity.
It causes severe neurological damage and death, with no effective antidote available, amplifying fears of potential misuse in Nigeria’s tense security environment.
El-Rufai, now a prominent opposition figure, copied the letter to key agencies including NAFDAC (National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control), NCDC (Nigeria Centre for Disease Control), and leaders of his All Progressives Congress (APC) party.
ONSA has yet to respond publicly to the inquiry.
