The Environmental Health Council of Nigeria (EHCON), in collaboration with the National Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA), has confiscated and destroyed consignments of seedlings and seeds valued at about ₦40 million for lacking the required regulatory certification and for being suspected genetically modified organisms (GMOs).
The enforcement action is part of the federal government’s ongoing efforts to strengthen biosafety regulation, safeguard public health, protect the environment, and preserve Nigeria’s agricultural biodiversity.
Speaking to journalists during the exercise, the Registrar of EHCON, Dr Yakubu Mohammed Baba, described the operation as a proactive measure aimed at curbing the illegal importation of seeds, including genetically modified and non-genetically modified seeds, without the necessary government certification.
According to Baba, the exercise was geared towards promoting a healthier and safer environment for all Nigerians.
He reaffirmed the Council’s commitment to working closely with relevant regulatory institutions to protect human lives and the environment.
“Today, we witnessed the disposal of 57 cartons of transgenic hybrid cotton seeds that were introduced into the country by Fiyah Global Concept Limited,” he said.
“Following investigations, surveillance activities, and intelligence gathering, it was confirmed that these seeds were imported without compliance with the country’s biosafety rules and regulations.”
Responding to questions on why the seeds were buried instead of incinerated, Baba explained: “We did not burn them because we wanted to reduce emissions. That is why we chose to bury them.”
Also speaking during the exercise, the Director-General of NBMA, Dr. Fatima Suleiman Zuntu, said the enforcement action followed intelligence gathering, surveillance operations, compliance monitoring, and a comprehensive investigation by the agency.
She said investigations established that the transgenic hybrid cotton seeds, traced to Fiyah Global Concept Limited, were imported and handled without the regulatory approvals and oversight required under the National Biosafety Management Act and other applicable regulations governing genetically modified organisms in Nigeria.
Dr. Zuntu emphasised that the case represented a regulatory compliance breach rather than a safety incident.
“At no point did the unauthorised activities pose a threat to human health, animal health, or the environment. Nevertheless, compliance with established regulatory procedures remains a fundamental requirement for maintaining the integrity, credibility, and effectiveness of Nigeria’s biosafety system,” she said.
She disclosed that, in addition to the destruction of the seeds, the Agency had imposed other regulatory sanctions on Fiyah Global Concept Limited in line with NBMA’s administrative procedures and the provisions of the law.
According to the Director-General, the Agency’s actions were guided solely by its statutory responsibility to protect Nigerians, safeguard biodiversity and the environment, and sustain public confidence in the regulation of modern biotechnology.
“This exercise sends a clear signal that no individual, institution, or organisation is above the law. Regulatory compliance is not optional. The National Biosafety Management Agency will continue to enforce the law without fear or favour whenever biosafety regulations are violated,” she stated.
Dr. Zuntu reiterated that the Agency would continue to discharge its mandate diligently to protect human health, preserve the environment and biodiversity, and ensure that the benefits of modern biotechnology are realised safely and responsibly for the benefit of all Nigerians.
The destruction exercise is intended to deter the illegal importation, distribution, and cultivation of both genetically modified and non-genetically modified seeds that have not undergone the mandatory approval, risk assessment, and certification processes required under Nigeria’s biosafety regulatory framework.
