By Ojugbele Omotunde
In a decisive call to action, food safety experts have urged the Nigerian National Assembly to amend the National Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA) Act to enforce a ban on the use, consumption, and promotion of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in Nigeria.
This appeal was made during a workshop for judicial officers titled “State of Biosafety in Nigeria,” organized by the Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF) in Abuja, on Friday.
The workshop, aimed at equipping judicial officers with essential knowledge on GMOs, underscored the potential violation of fundamental human rights posed by these genetically altered organisms.
Prof. Qrisstuberg Amua, Director-General of the Centre for Food Safety and Agricultural Research, highlighted the urgency of the situation, describing the push for GMOs as a national security concern.
He warned against the narratives funded by GMO proponents that link GMOs to solutions for food scarcity, climate change, and insecurity.
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Dr. Ifeanyi Casmir, a Medical Microbiologist and Public Health Consultant, pointed to studies indicating a possible connection between GMOs and cancer risks.
He criticized the deceptive marketing strategies employed by manufacturers that promise high yields and pest resistance without adequate knowledge of the long-term effects on human health.
The Executive Director of HOMEF, Dr. Nnimmo Bassey, emphasized the critical juncture at which Nigeria stands in determining its food future.
He stressed the importance of choosing between industrial agriculture biotechnology and agroecology, with the latter offering a path to increased productivity, economic resilience, and food sovereignty while nurturing ecosystems and mitigating environmental changes.
The call for legislative reform reflects a growing concern among experts over the implications of GMOs on health, biodiversity, and socio-economic stability in Nigeria.
The proposed amendments to the NBMA Act signify a commitment to safeguarding the nation’s citizens and environment from the potential risks associated with GMOs. Judges, as Dr. Bassey noted, play a vital role in ensuring due process and protecting the rights of stakeholders, thereby upholding justice in the face of biosafety challenges.
