HOMEF Leads Fresh Campaign Against GMOs in Nigeria

News in Brief:

-Farmers and civil groups call for a national ban on GMOs, citing health risks, soil degradation, and dependence on foreign seed companies.

-They advocate for organic alternatives and stronger food sovereignty, urging a review of the country's GMO stance.

Farmers and civil society organisations in Bakassi, Cross River State, have renewed their call on the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) to ban the importation and cultivation of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in Nigeria. They say GMOs threaten human health, soil fertility, and the country’s food sovereignty, a growing concern for smallholder farmers already battling rising production costs and soil degradation.

Farmers Warn Against GMO Dependence

The call was made during a sensitisation and training session organised by the Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF), in partnership with the Peace Point Development Foundation (PPDF) and the Bakassi Returning IDP Community Association (IDPCA).

HOMEF’s Director of Programmes, Joyce Brown, said the training aimed to enlighten farmers on the dangers of GMOs and promote safer, organic farming practices as alternatives. She explained that many farmers may be unaware of the long-term consequences of using genetically modified seeds, which could gradually erode traditional farming systems and seed diversity.

“With GMOs, farmers must buy seeds every season instead of replanting what they harvest,” Brown said. “This dependence destroys local seed systems and undermines food independence.”

Health and Environmental Concerns

Brown also cited studies linking GMO consumption to liver and kidney damage, immune disorders, and cancer. She urged the federal government to suspend further GMO approvals until independent scientific research confirms their safety.

Echoing her stance, Asuquo Okon, National Youth Coordinator of the Bakassi Returning IDP Community Association, shared how chemical fertilisers and pesticides have affected his farm.

“In 2022, I used fertiliser and pesticide on my crops. The first year was fine, but the next, nothing grew. These chemicals are destroying our soil,” he lamented.

Groups Accuse NAFDAC of Policy Inconsistency

Coordinator of PPDF, Mr Umo Isua-Ikoh, criticised NAFDAC for inconsistency on the GMO issue, recalling that the agency once warned against their use before changing its position. He maintained that Nigeria’s food crisis stems more from insecurity and limited access to land than from poor yields.

Meanwhile, Grace Bassey, Leader of the Bakassi Legislative Council, described the training as timely and pledged support for a local petition pushing for a ban on GMOs in Cross River.

Brown added that HOMEF has conducted similar sensitisation programmes in Edo, Enugu, and Kano States, with plans to extend the initiative across Cross River. She said the group remains committed to promoting organic agriculture and empowering farmers to protect Nigeria’s food system.