National Biosafety Agency Partners with African Countries

The National Biosafety Management Agency, NBMA in Nigeria is collaborating with Ethiopia and Mozambique to improve Biosecurity in Africa.

The Director General, of NBMA Dr Rufus Ebegba, stated this when delegates from Ethiopia and Mozambique visited the Agency on a learning tour of the Nigeria Biosafety system in Abuja, the nation’s capital.

He said that robust legal framework and the advancement of relevance policy guidelines have placed Nigeria as a leader on Biosafety issues in Africa.

“The agency has been able to establish a GMO detecting analysis laboratory to ensure that all GMOs suspects are properly analysed, detected and confirmed not to have meritorious genes, the activities of the agency has led to various development of various guidelines to enable effective delivery of National Biosafety in our country. We have not failed our country in ensuring that safety is our watchword,” the DG said.

Budget Improvememt

Minister of Environment, Mr Muhammed Abdullahi, says that the Nigerian government will improve the budget of the National Biosafety management Agency to ensure capacity development.

The Minister, who stated this at the meeting with top management of the Agency and delegation from Ethiopia and Mozambique, noted that Nigeria was committed to the development of African Biosafety institute, for the safety of people in Africa and across the continent.

“Your visit to Nigeria to study our Biosafety system and have a synergy in Africa is highly commendable, NBMA has been in the fore front when it comes to consumer protection, always alert and watchful to checkmate unwanted dump of GM foods here in Nigeria and I am glad the DG/CEO Dr Rufus Ebegba is doing this job with passion for humanity.” The Minister added.

In her response, the Mozambican representative, Dr Roda Uniz, said the agency was a good example to follow in terms of Biosafety around the African continent.

“We are here to learn how this technology is going to improve the lives of Africa and to protect our environment,”  she stated.

Similarly the President, Ethiopia Society of Biotechnology Professor, Firew Mekbib, said that Africa cannot develop without biotechnology.

He commended NBMA for its activities to ensure Biosafety in the continent.

Head of Policy and Regulatory Affairs, African Agricultural Technology Foundation Kenya,  Dr Francis Nang’ayo, promised to comply with approval conditions by NBMA on Biosafety.

He commended the great achievements made by NBMA and promised to learn more on Biosafety from the agency.

Confidence Okwuchi