Nigeria’s Minister of Environment, Amina Mohammed
By Abdallah el-Kurebe
The Minister of Environment, Amina Mohammed has said that there was not presently any genetically modified organisms (GMOs) officially grown in Nigeria and therefore called on Nigerians not to panic over the issue.
In a statement issued by the Minister on Monday in Abuja, she stated that the National Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA), established in 2015 under the Federal Ministry of Environment, was charged to, among others, ensure proper regulation of modern biotechnological activities and genetically modified organisms so as to protect the lives of Nigerians.
According to her, with the Act in place, Nigeria had taken laudable strides in order to adopt the necessary legal biosafety framework and policy, bearing in mind that if Nigeria got it right, it would guide other African countries.
“What we have approval are for field trials. All the GMOs in Nigeria officially approved are under experimental fields,” Amina stated adding that “the insect resistant cotton for commercial release will still be subjected to further processes for the next two years.”
The Minister further stated that the quest for Nigeria’s biotechnological advancement dated back to 2001 when the country adopted a National Biotechnology Policy and subsequently established the National Biotechnology Development Agency, adding that over 20 Research Institutes, private biotechnology firms and universities are also players in the biotechnology sector.
“The Agency is not working alone, as it is partnering with critical stakeholders such as the Nigerian Customs, the Nigerian Civil Defence Corps (NCDC), the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), the Ministry of Justice, Nigeria Agricultural Quarantine Service, National Seed Council, Science and regulatory based institutions, the New Partnership for Africa Development (NEPAD) and African Biosafety Network of Expertise, (ABNE), among others,” she explained.
She disclosed that the NBMA had the onerous task to ensure that potential impacts of the GMOs on human or animal health, the environment and the socio-economic effects were carefully weighed and the risk assessment fully carried out before being released.
While describing the concerns on GMOs expressed by the public as legitimate, she disclosed that the Federal Ministry of Environment, in collaboration with the National Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA), is organising an experts meeting, involving Civil Society groups, National Agencies and International Organisations to address all concerns expressed, with a view to clarifying Nigeria’s position on the use of GMOs.
She enjoined the citizenry to cooperate with the Federal Government in its quest to diversify the Nigerian economy for the present and future generations, adding “Nigerians should be rest assured of the protection of their health and environment by the National Biosafety Management Agency”.
