Explainer: What Is Thallium Sulphate and Why Is It Raising Public Concern?

Public interest has grown around thallium sulphate following recent claims by former Kaduna State governor Nasir El-Rufai regarding its alleged importation, and calls for clarification from the office of the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu. As debate continues, experts say it is important to understand what the substance is and why it is tightly controlled in many countries.

Thallium sulphate is a highly toxic, odorless inorganic compound historically used as a rodenticide and insecticide. Because of its extreme toxicity and risk of accidental poisoning, most countries have severely restricted or banned its routine commercial use.

Medical and toxicology sources describe thallium compounds as dangerous because they can accumulate in the human body. Exposure whether through ingestion, inhalation, or skin contact can lead to serious health consequences. Reported symptoms of poisoning include:

• Severe abdominal pain

• Nerve damage and neurological problems

• Numbness and limb discomfort

• Hair loss

• Organ complications in severe cases

Because symptoms may be delayed, diagnosis can be difficult without specialized testing.

In the United States, thallium compounds are subject to strict controls by agencies such as the Occupational Safety and Health Administration and the Environmental Protection Agency. Similar restrictions exist in many other jurisdictions due to environmental and public health risks.

Over the years, there have been allegations in media and historical commentary linking thallium compounds to covert poisoning cases and intelligence-era abuses, but such claims remain controversial and not uniformly established in official records.

Security analysts say substances like thallium sulphate attract scrutiny because they sit at the intersection of public health, hazardous materials control, and national security regulation. Any lawful importation would typically require permits, documentation, and clearly defined industrial, laboratory, or research purposes.

Observers say further clarification from Nigerian security authorities will be important to determine whether any procurement  if confirmed falls within legitimate regulated use or raises compliance questions.