The Nigerian government has provided reassurance to the public regarding the safety of Genetically Modified Organism (GMO) crops for human consumption.
This statement was made during a joint media briefing in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital, which was organized by the Open Forum On Agricultural Biotechnology (OFAB) Nigeria Chapter, an initiative of the African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF).
The briefing was conducted in light of the recent negative media campaigns initiated by anti-GMO groups targeting GM technology.
The conference aims to keep the records straight by providing factual and objective information about GMO technology, educate Nigerians on its benefits and potential implications in agriculture and reduce the tension of the misleading information by the Anti GMOs by providing accurate information about GMOs.
Setting the records straight, the Executive Secretary of the Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria, Professor Garba Sharubutu said GM technology in agriculture is meant to address some challenges faced by farmers across the country.
Professor Sharubutu stated that all GM crops go through a rigorous process of certification before being released to Nigerian farmers.
According to him, GM crops like the Tela maize and the PBR cowpea are developed by Nigerian scientists at the Institute of Agricultural Research IAR at the Ahmadu Bello University Zaria in Kaduna state for Nigerians to boost Nigeria’s chances at attaining food security.
“This technology that has come is developed by us, promoted by us and released by us, the scientist at the Institute of Agricultural Research IAR of the Ahmadu Bello University took the front burner to research into this”
“For the avoidance of doubt, they are Nigerians, born, bred, sponsored and trained by tax payer’s money and as such I do not see any reason why they would make a deliberate attempt to kill this country, secondly for the mere fact that we have control of our technology means we should be able to take control of whatever is there”
“Thirdly, the Nigerian government in its wisdom has decided that technologies cannot just come from any laboratory directly into the hands of the farmers, in its wisdom the country has put in place so many checkpoints where at any point before it reaches the release point it can be reserved” he noted
He added that Biotechnology has been used successfully to increase productivity in corn, soybean, wheat and cotton by combating insect pests and drought in other parts of the world including the USA, Europe, Brazil, Argentina and South Africa.
National Biotechnology Research and Development Agency
Addressing the safety of GMO plants on human and environmental health in Nigeria, the Director General NABRDA, Professor Abdullahi Mustapha said the debate has been reignited by the introduction of the Tela Maize, sparking controversies, misinformation, and misunderstanding.
This he said has resulted in widespread fear and scepticism among the public thereby necessitating that stakeholders address the concerns by dispelling misinformation, and educating the nation on the proven safety and advantages of GMOs.
“GMOs represent a crucial advancement in the field of biotechnology, offering a myriad of benefits that span across agriculture, food security, health, industry, and the environment. These genetically modified organisms have the potential to revolutionise our approach to addressing pressing global challenges such as food scarcity, malnutrition, and environmental sustainability.
“By harnessing the power of genetic engineering, Nigerian scientists and researchers have developed crops that are more resilient to pests, diseases, and adverse climate conditions, thus ensuring a more secure food supply for present and future generations. Some of these crops include Bt Cowpea, Bt Cotton and the newly released Tela Maize,” he said.
Similarly, Architect Kabiru Ibrahim, President of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), said the attack on GMOs in Nigeria is not in the interest of the Nigerian farmers.
“GMOs have given Nigerian farmers an opportunity for better earning. We have planted the crops and have seen that all that the anti-GMOs have alleged have not been found in the crops.”
