NBMA Sensitises Nigerians On Biosafety

The National Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA) has reassured Nigerians of the safety of genetically modified agricultural products known as GMOs. This is to debunk some misinformation already in circulation that genetically modified products approved by NBMA are harmful for human consumption.
The Director-General/Chief Executive Officer of the Agency, Dr Rufus Ebegba, made this clarification yesterday in a sensitization workshop organized in PortHarcourt to sensitize Nigerians on the state of biosafety in Nigeria, with regards to genetically modified organisms and their safety.
Updating the public on the activities of the federal government in the area of biosafety management in the country, Dr Rufus said the NBMA has not been resting on its oars in ensuring that only safe and approved genetically modified seeds and grains for food and feed processing are allowed into the Nigerian market, hence the constant upgrading of genetically modified detection and analysis laboratory and constant inspection of GMO facilities, confined field trial sites and multi locational trial sites for proper surveillance, tracking and monitoring of GMOs in Nigeria.
The DG thus maintained that the biosafety system engaged by NBMA ensures safety of the application of modern biotechnology to human health and the environment, insisting that so far, none of the GMOs approved in Nigeria has any risk associated with it, as the agency has a responsibility towards the safety of Nigerians, the environment, and the realization of government’s objective s in the diversification of Nigerian economy towards the actualization of green economy as well as the economic prosperity of Nigerians.
He thus charged the media to re-echoe the message of the safety of the genetically modified organisms to every citizens for better understanding, stating that globally, safe science and technology have been known to be drivers of economic change, of which Nigeria can not afford to be left out.

By: Sylvia ThankGod-Amadi