My two-piece article on GMOs attracted several comments for and against this innovative technology, similar to the reactions I received when I wrote about the Igbo Presidency before the 2023 elections. I aimed to educate my readers to make informed decisions about GMO consumption while urging authorities to be extra vigilant about food-related issues. I shared my experience with security when entering the USA with a piece of dry meat (Kilishi), which I ate on the plane but couldn’t finish. It took more than two hours of questioning before I was allowed through after confiscating less than ten grams of dried meat. Yet, Americans produce and consume GMO foods, which they could not dare to do if GMO were deemed harmful to people or the environment. Still, people have the right to decide what they put into their bodies, and the government should protect that right. I am sharing some of the reactions with my readers to help them understand GMOs better. These reactions are their opinions and do not necessarily reflect my own views on the matter. This is the first of the readers’ comments. I will create another post in the future to publish the second set. Happy reading.
Thank you so much, brother, for your concern about GMOs (Genetically Modified Organisms) and their potential negative impact in Africa, especially in Nigeria. Many knowledgeable personnel conducted research, and their findings were shared. Furthermore, many who are cautious about the long-term implications of foreign agricultural technologies shared their concerns and cried out to the leaders. Still, no one seemed to care about them. Here’s a brief explanation of the key issues on GMOS. The good, the bad, and the ugly. It’s left to your choice to believe or disbelieve. Research not approved by a specialist, but using modern technology as the case may be, in the present dispensation.
1. Loss of Agricultural Sovereignty
Western GMO companies (like Monsanto, now part of Bayer) often sell patented seeds to farmers. These seeds cannot be replanted the following season without repurchasing, thereby creating dependency on foreign corporations, which undermines local seed-saving traditions and agricultural independence.
2. Soil and Environmental Impact
GMOs often require specific chemical herbicides (like glyphosate) to be effective. Over time, this can degrade soil fertility, harm beneficial insects, and lead to resistant pests and weeds—further reducing crop productivity and increasing farming costs
3. Health and Safety Concerns
Although many studies claim GMOs are safe, there is a lack of long-term, independent research in African contexts. Some worry that unknown health effects could occur, especially when GMO foods are not clearly labeled.
4. Economic Exploitation
GMOs are often introduced claiming to help African agriculture, but the benefits usually go to foreign companies. Nigerian farmers may face higher input costs, low yields (due to soil incompatibility or poor climate matching), and market control by global agribusinesses.
5. Cultural and Ecological Erosion
Traditional farming practices, which are deeply rooted in Nigerian culture and ecology, risk being lost. GMOs encourage monoculture (single crop farming), which decreases biodiversity and weakens the resilience of local food systems.
Conclusion
Many believe the rush to adopt GMOs in Nigeria, often supported by asleep or uninformed leadership, could cause long-term harm economically, environmentally, and socially. Instead of blindly accepting foreign technology, Nigeria needs agricultural policies that protect local farmers, promote ecological farming, and ensure food sovereignty. We must wake up and not allow our blessed land to be denied its full potential. Let’s go back to our natural organic manure and our seeds. dezat2001@yahoo.com
Thank you, Prof. Othman, for your time and effort on this very important and controversial issue. Just the part you have shared is enough to justify our serious opposition to GMOs in our country.
There are two issues you concluded upon.
1) That more than 30 countries, including the entire European Union, have banned GMOs, and some African countries have banned it too.
2) You àlsò deposed that the safety of GMOs released to Nigeria is one of the potent questions raised.
These are clearly germane issues to ponder about. Why is it that scientists in Nigeria feel that those countries that ban GMOs are not wise? Ìn a hopelessly corrupt environment of ours, why dó wẹ think that our quality control strategies will be able to contain the sophisticated manipulations of the evil GMO agents?
We are only willingly naive, and for obvious reasons, if we cannot recognize the skirmishes of capitalist businessmen whose goals are to eliminate all competition and keep them dependent forever, regardless of the negative consequences.
They may not be targeting the food safety problem. Environmental destruction, which cannot be easily detected, is a significant issue, and these areas have been particularly hard-hit for Nigerian farmers in recent times.
The issues have moved beyond debate. Field results from farmers’ harvests are concrete enough to clearly show the truth. A survey on the current farming season report will reveal that the yields and quality of the crops are far below the projections of the GMO advocates.
So the issue of GMOs and responses to it cannot be stifled, and when the TRUTH descends as it did on situations and deceptions of COVID, the whole wide world will see it.
Prof Jones Ade Akinbolade
You haven’t betrayed my trust, though you didn’t say it as sharply as I wanted it. Anyway, as a freelancer, I’m sure you won’t want to offend either side. In my view, there’s no harm in GMOs. China, Brazil, the USA, etc, wouldn’t consciously feed their citizens with poisons! The resistance against GMOs is economic, misunderstanding, and ignorance! The investment in agriculture in Nigeria to allow horizontal growth isn’t happening; hence, vertical growth is the only option now! Thanks, Professor Othman – Prof Auwal M. Hussain
Salamualaikum Sir,
I have read your article, and it is indeed lovely, detailed, and enlightening. I sincerely appreciate the effort you put into breaking down such a complex subject. That said, I must admit that while GMOs might seem awesome, I really don’t like the idea of GMOs at all — I worry about their long-term effects. I have a few major concerns I’d love to hear your thoughts on:
1. Can we truly be sure that the safety tests for GMOs in Nigeria are as rigorous as those done in the EU or the US?
2. Even if current studies show no health risks, how do we account for potential long-term effects that might not appear immediately?
3. How do we prevent GMOs from causing problems like pest resistance, biodiversity loss, or unintended consequences in our environment?
4. What guarantees do we have that smallholder farmers won’t be trapped in a cycle of dependency on seed companies for every planting season?
5. Wouldn’t investing more in improving our local, traditional seed systems be a safer and more sustainable path to food security?
I would be very grateful for your perspective on these concerns.
Abdullahi Mohammad Sani
