Biosafety Agency Recommits To Genetically Modified Organisms

The National Biosafety Management Agency, NBMA says it will ensure safety in the use of Modern Biotechnology by providing a holistic approach to the regulation of Genetically Modified Organisms, GMO’s in Nigeria.

The Director General of the Agency, Dr Agnes Asabgra stated this when a team of Burkina-Faso National Biosafety Authority paid her a courtesy visit in Abuja, the Nation’s capital.

The team came to understudy the Nigeria Biosafety system.

Dr Asabgra said that the Agency would also provide an enabling environment for indigenous and foreign scientists to practice modern biotechnology under a robust legal framework.

She said; “We’ve been able to make our impact felt stronger, we’ve been able to go out strong, telling the country that yes, we are regulators and in no way we will compromise the health of our citizens and our environment. We will make sure we do not compromise on standards that are supposed to be made by those who are imported or those who are using modern biotechnology, in the production of GMOs.’’ 

She also noted that Nigeria has made significant progress in the area of Biosafety which has led to other African countries coming to Nigeria to understudy the Nigeria Biosafety system.

Dr Asabgra said; “We’re doing it right, and that’s why they have come to learn how we’re doing it and how they too can improve and make sure that Biosafety and biosecurity is something to be reckoned with in the nation because majorly we are concerned about the human health, the animal health, plant life, and also the environment. we’re doing it right that’s why other countries from Africa are coming to study what we are doing in the NBMA.’’ 

She added that the NBMA will open new avenues for research institutes and the entire biotech industry to break new grounds that will enhance the various sector of the Nigerian economy.

The Principal Programme Officer for Biosafety in Agriculture and Health Burkina-Faso, Dr Moussa Savadogo, said that modern biotechnology is a tool the continent needs to move forward and address food insecurity in Africa.

Dr Savadogo who also doubles as the Head of the delegation, commended the NBMA for all its achievement since its inception in ensuring a safer modern biotechnology in the country.

‘’So Burkina Faso is proud of what Nigeria is doing in terms of developing the Biosafety system to ensure that modern biotechnology can be utilised in Nigeria more safely to address the food challenge and the food security challenges, from the presentation we have learned that if you need to utilise by technology, you need to have a strong Biosafety system with all the component from communication to policy to MOUs with other agencies, so Nigeria is doing very well in all those sectors so we have come to learn from that,’’ he explained.

Dr Savadogo said the visit would also help the Burkina Faso National Biosafety Authority in developing its guidelines and policies.

He said; “The NBMA is a reference agency in the world, as a neighbouring country in West Africa we are also in need in terms of Biosafety issues, we have the same problem and the same responsibilities we are here to learn, we are here to take the discussion on issues of common interest, we thank AATF that brought us here, this programme that brought us here involved Nigeria Ghana and Burkina-Faso that will benefit the region on food security. “

Dr Savadogo added that their engagement with the NBMA was also to strengthen the partnership and more collaboration between the two agencies.

The Head Communication Unit NBMA, Mrs Gloria Ogbaki advised the Burkina-Faso regulatory team to work closely with their legislatures, to have a strong political will to surmount whatever challenges they will face in the course of carrying out their mandate.

Mrs Ogbaki said; ‘’Today we received a visit from the National Biosafety authority in Burkina Faso who are here to learn about our Biosafety system, and the reason why they are here is because the Nigerian Biosafety system is want to be reckoned with in Africa because in Nigeria we have a very strong positive system. And as a result of our communication strategy, we have been able to carry along the public, our stakeholders, and the international community on what we do when it concerns Biosafety in Nigeria.’’ 

She further said that the Agency would continue to collaborate with Stakeholders and more African countries for more partnerships on issues of Biosafety and Biosecurity.

“Burkina Faso, they are into modern biotechnology, as they are here we are hoping for stronger collaboration, especially on issues of gene drive, on GM mosquitoes, and also on issues of genome editing. they are on the verge of validating their National communication strategy on genome editing, we are here to also put them through on how to go about these issues, and we are going to ensure we collaborate appropriately on issues of Biosafety,’’ She added.

Mercy Chukwudiebere