The National Biosafety Management Agency in Nigeria, NBMA is taking steps to combat Bio-terrorism in the country.
Director General of the Agency, Dr Rufus Ebegba stated this at a Presentation of National Biosafety Guidelines on Genetically Modified, GM Plants with Stacked Genes and GM Fish, meeting held in Abuja.
Dr. Rufus Ebegba said the guidelines, which had already been validated by stakeholders, would regulate institutions and technology developers through safe process and application of Modern Bio-technology products and Genetically Modified Organisms, GMOs.
“As a mandate and part of ensuring that modern biotechnology application and the products do not have negative impacts in the production of GMOs in our country for economic development. We have recently developed another guideline known as National Bio-safety guidelines on gene stack. These guidelines are being developed through agency staff and also be subjected to various stakeholders review processes,” Dr Ebegba explained.
Development. GMOs
of further said that the development of GMOs are not just with only one gene this time, but more than one chain have been added to perform various functions to make the genetically modified organism more effective and useful.
“These guidelines will guide developers, research community and the agency on the exploitation of developers on the technology in the area of chain stalking. We believe this guideline has been reviewed thoroughly. Not within the Nigerian context alone. It has reportedly been subjected to international exposure we are happy with the international input to that to these guidelines. We are convinced that this guideline will help us to be more effective in our regulatory system as regards GMOs,” he said.
The Directir General stated that issues of Bio- terrorism were also considered in the development of the guidelines.
“The issue of Biosecurity is key to our National security and we have put in place Bio-security policies, we are at the verged of presenting it to further stakeholders to understand how these policies would be implemented, these policies where developed under the auspices of the Federal Ministry of Environment, these policies will not only look at the areas of ensuring that there are no malicious intention to exposed the country to harmful Biological agents , we will also be looking at unintentional release of harmful Biological agents to ensure that we proper contain them so that they are not release into the environment, in the area of insecurity in our country we are very much aware the way the world is going in the area Bio-Terrorism may likely occur these policy has adequately address that,” he explained.
Meeting on Biological Diversity
Dr. Ebegba said the Agency would represent its country at Conference of Parties, COP meeting on Biological Diversity to strengthen Nigeria’s capacity in Biosafety issues.
“As an Agency representing the Federal government at the International level, there are various issues which we have helped as Africa to support the Africa continent to ensure that Africa is not left behind, we will be going to Canada with other African countries to attend Conference of Parties serving as a regional party to the Convention on Biological Diversity, we’ll be looking at areas of Bio-safety under the Cartagena Protocol, We have a responsibility to the global community to ensure that we are intended with international best practices in the area of our Biosafety applicant regulations,” the Director General added.
The Country’s Coordinator Programme for Biosafety System Dr. Matthew Dore commended the diligence of NBMA, in presenting the guidelines and urged research institutions to abide by the document.
“NBMA is forward-looking, striving to meet the developments in the Public presentation of National Biosafety Guidelines diligent compilation of guidelines, regulations, and administrative builders in the field, to ensure Nigeria is ahead of the curve. so that farmers can expect an increase in productivity on GM Plants with Stacked Genes challenges such as environmental stresses, insect pests, and diseases biotechnology,” Dr. Dore added.
The Meeting was held in collaboration with Programmes for Biosafety System.
Confidence Okwuchi
