Experts Set Guidelines For Bio safety Management

The National Biosafety Management Agency in Nigeria, NBMA has presented guidelines for genetically modified Bio safety Management in Nigeria.

The Director General National Biosafety Management Agency Dr. Rufus Ebegba  appreciated the experts who developed guidelines to its present stage. He charged the experts to make valuable in puts into the  review the document for the National use.

“The stacked gene event is nothing different from what we have had over the years. Stacked gene events imply to a situation where an organism has more than a gene for its intended benefits. Government’s position is not to stop the activities of modern biotechnology but rather to deploy safe cutting edge technology capable to revamp the agricultural sector towards  providing farmers with improved plants and seeds that portend a better economy and National food security”. Dr Ebegba explained.

He stressed that the National Biosafety Management Agency, NBMA responsibility is to ensure that whatever product that results from the practice of modern Biotechnology is safe to human health, animals, plants and the environment.

According to him, “The NBMA would never compromise standards at the expense of the country it is a job of the government to protect its citizens and whatever product that is not safe will not be approved in the country, our concerns on stacked gene events are based on nutritional values and social economic benefits. These are issues we consider at the review which prompts further decision by the NBMA.”

Senior Programme Officer, Africa Union Development Agency, and  New Partnership for Africa’s Development  AUDA-NEPAD, Mr Sam Timpo commended the NBMA as the leading light on Biosafety issues in Africa said Nigerian Biosafety system has become model for other African countries as they are willing to come to Nigeria and understudy the Nigerian Biosafety system.

He also noted the AUDA-NEPAD will to continue to  support the Nigerian Biosafety in ensuring the proper regulation of modern Biotechnology and its products.

Country Coordinator Open Forum on Agricultural Biotechnology,  Dr. Rose Gidado in her remark equally  commended the National Biosafety Management Agency on its strict position to ensure that only safe GMOs and their derivatives are permitted in the country.

She added that NBMA is highly known in Africa and beyond especially its confirmed standards and strictness to promote safety of human health, animals, plants and environment while the world is making conscious effort to drive economy with technology that is eco-friendly in order to combat climate change impacts.

The Head Planning Research and Statistics National Biosafety Management Agency Mrs. Bello Scholastica in presenting the objectives of the review meeting,  said the significance of the review was necessary and timely as this would help to have robust National guidelines to checkmate stacked gene events in the country.

Mrs. Bello added that Nigeria would have a refined document that addresses all areas of concerns as it relates to the stacked gene events after the whole process.

The review meeting was attended by experts from Ministries and Agencies, Foreign partners who joined and participated virtually, nongovernmental organizations and various media organizations.

Dominica Nwabufo