The National Biosafety Management Agency in Nigeria, NBMA, says it will consolidate on it achievements to create more awareness as the agency’s journey into 2023.
It also said that, Nigeria from 2023 will start gaining external revenue from the exportation of genetically modified products GMOs proudly produced in Nigeria.
The Director General of the Agency, Dr Rufus Ebegba stated this at a media chat on the state of biosafety and biosecurity in Nigeria, held in Abuja.
Dr Ebegba said this can be achieved through the certifications from the GMOs regulatory body in Nigeria accepted all over the world.
He said this giving the agencies scorecards from 2015 to 2022, with an assertion that the successful GMOs products in Nigeria, has become an economic enabler and means of diversification.
“Nigeria is benefiting from safe modern biotechnology under a legal framework for economic growth, improved agriculture, job and wealth creation, industrial growth and sustainable environment as operators now have confidence in the sector. The agency from 2015 to 2022 has developed biosafety operational and implementing instruments, regulations and Guidelines to ensure effectiveness in the discharge of the agency’s mandate creating a robust synergy among stakeholders for effective regulation of GMOs and their products as well as the signing of MoU with relevant regulatory agencies,” he explained.
The Director General, also noted that the NBMA, has ensured that only safe modern biotechnology activities and GMOs products are allowed in Nigeria and ensure that the agencies’ primary responsibility as a regulatory body is achieved.
“This is ensured through biosafety risk assessment and regular nationwide survey/surveillance, tracking and profiling of GMOs to ensure compliance with the Biosafety Permit conditions. Biosafety approval was granted for the commercialization of Bt cotton, PBR cowpea and TELA Maize after rigorous biosafety risk assessment.
“Biosafety approvals were granted for Biosafety facilities, containment, confirmed field trails,and import of GM crops and developers, all these were achieved through a critical mass of well-educated and sensitized stakeholders about NBMA’s role and increased commitment by stakeholders to ensuring safety in the sector,” Dr Ebegba said.
He noted that Nigeria may no longer be a dumping ground for unauthorized GMOs hence the potential risk and socio-economic consequences of unauthorized GMOs.
Dr Ebegba said that fall out of the fits, however, has gained the country recognition in the International Biosafety Community with other African Countries looking up to Nigeria for leadership scientifically.
He stated that an avenue is being provided to confirm and harness the potential of modern Biotechnology practitioners and reduce the brain drain in the sector.
Dr Ebegba said that biosafety approvals have led to increased confidence in the sector by investors, researchers, farmers and consumers with overall increased benefit to the economy.
“Approvals have added to stimulating and enhancing socio-economic development, industrial environment, health and green economy. Also improved food security by the provision of better seeds resistant to climate change, adverse climate conditions and pests and diseases; Increase in crop yields per planted area through reduced pest damage and increase gain in profit among farmers due to reduced use of Agrochemicals Creation of direct and indirect; Job and wealth, and increased GDP growth; Increased presence as global trade player resulting in increased foreign earnings,” he explained.
While commending the Nigerian government and the Minister of Environment, Dr Ebegba further said that the agency is working with relevant stakeholders in the country to ensure a better and more secure environment for all.
The National Biosafety Management Agency, NBMA, was established in 2015 through the National Biosafety Management Agency Act 2015.
The Agency is charged with the responsibility of providing regulatory/enforcement framework, and institutional and administrative mechanisms for safety measures in the application of modern biotechnology in Nigeria with the view to preventing any adverse effect on human health, animals, plants and the environment.
Mercy Chukwudiebere
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