Biosafety agency: No genetically modified fruits, beans in Nigeria

The National Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA) says fruits and beans in the Nigerian market are not genetically modified as insinuated.

Rufus Egbegba, director-general of NBMA, disclosed this during a media briefing in Abuja on Tuesday.

He said the federal government through the agency is always poised to protect the health of its citizens and the environment by providing case-by-case analysis of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and risk assessments.

“I want to restate here that the fruits and beans available in the Nigerian market presently are not genetically modified as insinuated rather they are either hybrids or improved,” he said.

“The NBMA has not been resting on its oars in ensuring that only safe and approved genetically modified seed and grains for food and feed processing are allowed into the Nigerian market hence the constant upgrading of our GM detection and analysis laboratory and our constant Inspection of GMO facilities, confined field trial sites and multi-locational trial sites.

“This is for proper surveillance, tracking and monitoring of GMOs in Nigeria.”

He further stated that as part of the agency’s efforts to expand monitoring and surveillance, it partners with stakeholders such as the Standards Organization of Nigeria (SON), Nigeria Agricultural Quarantine Service, National Seed Council as well as the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) to ensure that the Nigerian boarders are well monitored in case of any unapproved importation of genetically modified products.

Egbegba assured Nigerians of the agency’s unequivocal responsibility towards ensuring their safety.

He said: “I want to use this medium to assure Nigerians that the federal government through the agency is doing everything possible to ensure that we are all safe.”

“Let me say this categorically that whatever the agency says is safe is indeed safe. Nigerians need not be afraid as their health and wellbeing are paramount in the mind of the agency as they relate to biosafety.

“The agency has a responsibility towards the safety of Nigerians, the environment, the realisation of government objectives in the diversification of the Nigerian economy towards the actualisation of green economy and the economic prosperity of Nigerians.”