Prof. Abdullahi Mustapha, Director-General of the National Biotechnology Research and Development Agency (NBRDA), says the strong performance of Nigeria’s genetically modified (GM) crops is the result of rigorous biosafety oversight and informed public engagement.
Mustapha stated this in an interview with reporters on Thursday in Abuja.
He said Nigeria’s biosafety framework, anchored by the National Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA) and supported by research partners, adopts a case-by-case risk assessment system aligned with international best practices.
According to him, biosafety is not a barrier to innovation but a safeguard to ensure that scientific advancements are deployed responsibly.
He said transparency in testing, post-release monitoring and continuous public sensitization remain critical components of the regulatory process.
Giving an update on the performance of the three GM crops currently approved for commercial cultivation—Bt cotton, Pod Borer Resistant (PBR) cowpea and TELA maize—Mustapha said field reports have been highly encouraging.
He said field trials showed that TELA maize improved yields significantly, even under pest pressure and irregular rainfall patterns.
“Recorded yields sometimes range between 20 per cent and 35 per cent higher than local varieties while using fewer pesticides,” he said.
Mustapha added that PBR cowpea had greatly reduced crop losses caused by Maruca, the insect pest of beans, and cut farmers’ spending on insecticides.
He noted that farmers in cotton-growing communities had also reported substantial improvements in productivity after adopting Bt cotton.
“These are not abstract scientific claims; they are real experiences of households whose incomes, nutrition and food security have improved,” he said.
Mustapha explained that agricultural biotechnology complements existing agricultural policies by increasing productivity, reducing post-harvest losses and creating value along the value chain.
He said improved harvests would boost incomes for farmers, processors, transporters and agribusinesses, while reduced reliance on chemicals would benefit the environment and lower production costs.
“These ripple effects align with the government’s ambition to make Nigeria more self-reliant, create dignified jobs for young people and leverage science and technology for national development,” he added.
