The Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF) has warned that introducing Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) into Nigerian agriculture is not a viable solution to the country’s food insecurity challenges.
Ms. Joyce Brown, HOMEF’s Director of Programmes, made the statement on Thursday in Bakassi during a one-day practical agro-ecology training for farmers, themed “Solving the Food and Climate Crisis.” The training aimed to educate farmers on the implications of GMOs and inorganic pesticides while teaching environmentally friendly techniques for producing organic fertilisers and herbicides.
Brown emphasized that GMOs threaten Nigeria’s food sovereignty, as farmers cannot save or replant GMO seeds, leaving them dependent on corporations and governments.
“This goes against the culture of farming in Nigeria, where farmers traditionally save, reuse, and exchange seeds sustainably,” she said. “With GMOs, we also risk soil degradation. In 2024, the Association of Cotton Farmers reported that after three years of planting GMO cotton, their soils became unproductive for local varieties. They also noted that GMO crops did not significantly outperform local varieties in yield.”
She added that addressing food insecurity in Nigeria requires strengthening extension services, resolving farmer-herder conflicts, and improving storage facilities, among other measures.
Mr. Umo Isua-Ikoh, Coordinator of the Peace Point Development Foundation (PPDF), which partnered with HOMEF for the training, stressed the need for public awareness on GMOs. He recalled that a few years ago, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) declared GMOs unsafe, but reversed the position in 2025.
“Our research shows that GMOs are not safe for human consumption,” he said. “My message to NAFDAC is to join the campaign to ban GMOs across Nigeria, as they provide no economic, cultural, or health benefits to the nation.”
Ms. Grace Bassey, leader of the Bakassi Legislative Council, commended HOMEF’s initiative and promised to follow up on the petition against GMOs to keep Bakassi free of them.
Mr. Asuquo Okon appealed to the federal government to ban GMOs, noting that they are altering traditional farming systems and increasing reliance on corporations for seeds. He also warned that the excessive use of chemicals such as inorganic fertilisers, herbicides, and pesticides, combined with GMOs, could contribute to the rising prevalence of unexplained illnesses in Nigeria.
