El-Rufai Questions NSA, Nuhu Ribadu Over Alleged Importation of Deadly Thallium -

Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai, has formally written to the National Security Adviser (NSA), seeking urgent clarification over an alleged procurement of approximately 10 kilograms of thallium sulphate by the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA).

In a letter dated January 30, 2026, and addressed to the NSA at the Office of the National Security Adviser, Three Arms Zone, Abuja, El-Rufai said he was writing as a concerned citizen to seek clarification and reassurance regarding information allegedly available to opposition leadership about the importation of the highly toxic chemical, reportedly from a supplier in Poland.

Thallium salts are globally recognised as highly toxic and tightly controlled substances due to their severe public-health implications.

In the letter titled “Request for Clarification on the Procurement of Thallium Sulphate,” El-Rufai asked the NSA to confirm:
The intended purpose and end-use of the imported thallium sulphate.

The identity of the supplier and whether the material was imported under an existing chemical or defence permit.

The total quantity and specific form or concentration procured or already received.
The storage and security arrangements for the material upon arrival.

The regulatory oversight and coordination in place with the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), and other relevant public-health and environmental agencies.

Whether any public-health risk assessments or hazard-mitigation plans have been developed, given the compound’s extreme toxicity.

He stressed that the inquiry was made in good faith, aimed solely at ensuring due process, safety standards, and transparency are observed.

“Public confidence in the integrity of national institutions is strengthened when potential risks are openly addressed and managed,” he stated.

El-Rufai also requested a formal response or a designated point of contact within the NSA’s office for further engagement. He disclosed that copies of the correspondence were forwarded to the Director-General of NAFDAC, the Director-General of the NCDC, as well as the National Chairmen of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

As of the time of filing this report, the Office of the National Security Adviser had not issued any official response to the concerns raised.

The development is likely to spark political debate and public scrutiny, given the sensitivity surrounding the handling of hazardous substances and national security operations in Nigeria.