WeekendSalvo@NaijaAgroNet ... Linking agrobiz, sustainable environs, people & technologyThis WeekendSalvo@NaijaAgroNet by REMMY NWEKE, examines Nigeria’s GMO economy, exploring its promises, policy gaps, and impact on smallholder farmers, while calling for innovation rooted in fairness, food sovereignty, and inclusive agricultural growth.
Framing the debate:
In the evolving narrative of agricultural innovation, Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) have become both a beacon of promise and a source of contention.
NaijaAgroNet:
The lower chambers of the National Assembly, the House of Representatives
have summoned the Minister of Agriculture, Chief Audu Ogbeh, over concerns allegedly
arising from the importation of Genetically Modified Organisms
(GMOs) foods into Nigeria, reports NaijaAgroNet.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), GMOs are organisms including plants, animals or microorganisms in which the
genetic material (DNA) have been altered in a way that does not occur naturally
by mating and or natural recombination.
NaijaAgroNet gathered that recently over 100 groups representing some 5
million Nigerians, comprising of farmers, faith-based organisations, civil
society groups, students and local community groups, passionately opposed
Monsanto’s attempts to introduce genetically modified (GM) cotton and maize
into Nigeria’s food and farming systems.
In written objections submitted to the biosafety regulators, the groups cited
numerous serious health and environmental concerns and the failure of these
crops especially GM cotton in Africa, alleging that the former President,
Goodluck Jonathan hurriedly signed the bill on National
Biosafety Management into law at the exit point.
They rejected the plans for the regulator to licence Monsanto
Agricultural Nigeria Limited which applied to the National Biosafety Management
Agency (NABMA) for the environmental release and placing in the market in Zaria
and surrounding towns of GM cotton (Bt cotton, event MON 15985). A further
application they said was made for the confined field trial (CFT) of two GM
maize varieties (NK603 and stacked event MON 89034 x NK603) in multiple
locations in Nigeria.
NaijaAgroNet further gathered that NBMA, the regulatory body for
biotechnology in Nigeria, had since May 1, a public holiday in Nigeria, issued
two permits signed by the DG, NBMA, Mr. Rufus Ebegba, to Monsanto Agriculture
Nigeria Limited for the commercial release and market placement of these GMO
cotton and the confined field trial of GMO maize.
However, the summon monitored on Channels TV, followed a motion raised by a
member of the House of Representatives from Imo State, Hon. Austin Ikechukwu,
on Thursday at the National Assembly in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory
(FCT), which was promptly carried.
Also, the House in agreeing to the summon, asked the Minister to appear
before them over the issuance of permits to a company, Monsanto Agriculture
Nigeria Limited, to introduce some of the foods into the Nigerian market.
The House Committees on Healthcare Services and Agriculture Products have
been mandated to also meet with the Director-General of the National Agency for
Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) on the impact of GMO.
The committees are to get a list of food supplements and genetically
modified foods that have been granted NAFDAC registration numbers and have 12
weeks to report back to the House.
Isaac Oyimah/Channels TV/GEE.
... Linking agrobiz, sustainable environs, people & technology
Pix Audu Ogbeh.
