Nigeria's Biosafety Agency Clear Misconceptions on GMOs

News in brief:

-NBMA and AATF engage students, farmers and civil society to clarify misinformation surrounding GMOs.

-Stakeholders highlight biosafety regulations and benefits of biotechnology, including insect-resistant cowpeas.

The National Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA) and the African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF) have moved to address public concerns and misconceptions surrounding Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) through stakeholder engagement in Nasarawa State.

The two organisations held a sensitisation workshop in Keffi for students, academicians and civil society groups to provide accurate information on the consumption and regulation of GMOs in Nigeria.

Director-General of NBMA, Mr Bello Bawa Bwari, described the issue of GMOs and their regulation as controversial, noting that misinformation continues to shape public perception. He was represented at the event by Mrs Scholastica Bello, Director of Planning and Statistics in the agency’s Research Department.

“While we have information out there, we also have misinformation, so we are here to educate the public on GMOs,” he said.

Bwari explained that bringing key stakeholders together was aimed at providing credible sources of information and correcting false narratives.

He added that biosafety plays a critical role in achieving national food security objectives, in line with President Bola Tinubu’s agenda.

Biotechnology and Biosafety Regulations

Mrs Hauwa Ahmed, Head of the Department of Biosafety Operations and Enforcement at NBMA, said participants were educated on biotechnology techniques and biosafety regulations.

She stressed that biotechnology cannot thrive without effective biosafety frameworks, adding that modern biotechnology techniques are safe for humans and the environment when properly regulated.

“We have successfully sensitised biotechnology, microbiology and environmental scientists on how to apply modern biotechnology,” Ahmed said.

Mr Emmanuel Ogienomoh, a GMO farmer in Nasarawa State, said he cultivates pod borer-resistant cowpeas and attests to their benefits. He noted that the crop is insect-resistant and produces higher yields, contributing to improved productivity and farm income.