News in Brief:
– The Nigerian House of Representatives has called for a suspension of GMO crops due to concerns about food safety and environmental risks.
– Lawmakers are urging an investigation into the introduction of GMOs and proper labeling of existing products, while highlighting potential health risks and a loss of control over food security.
Nigeria’s House of Representatives has called on the federal government to suspend the commercialisation of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO) crops in the country. This decision follows concerns raised about potential risks to food safety and the environment associated with GMOs.
The House’s decision came after a recent motion was adopted, urging a comprehensive investigation into the introduction of GMO crops by the National Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA).
The motion, put forward by Muktar Shagaya (APC-Kwara), mandated the House Committee on Agricultural Production and Services to lead the investigation. It tasked a committee to assess potential health and environmental risks associated with GMOs and reporting back within four weeks.
Furthermore, the House motion calls for a suspension of the introduction of new GMO crops until the investigation is completed and its findings made public.
Concerns regarding labeling and safety
The House also called upon the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) to ensure proper labeling of existing GMO foods and crops in Nigeria to protect consumers.
Shagaya, while presenting the motion, explained that GMO crops are plants with altered DNA for agricultural purposes, achieved through genetic engineering techniques. He noted potential consequences of GMOs, including the creation of crops containing genes with higher toxicity and long-term negative effects on human health.
Additionally, he mentioned public outcry against GMOs due to concerns about potential risks to human health, environmental degradation, and food security, while raising questions about the NBMA’s approval process for GMOs. This line of inquiry implies from the rep’s view, a lack of due process and adherence to scientific protocols.
Meantime, the lawmaker expressed concern that Nigeria is introducing GMOs at a time when several European and other countries have banned them due to safety considerations.
He further pointed out the uncertainty surrounding long-term health risks associated with GMOs, such as cancer, antibiotic resistance, allergic reactions, and reproductive issues.
Recall that in February 2024, several biotech agencies in the country had reassured the Senate that genetically modified crops offered benefits rather than threats. In the letter, the National Biotechnology Development Agency (NABDA) and the Biotechnology Society of Nigeria (BSN) responded to concerns raised by the Global Prolife Alliance regarding the safety and security of genetically modified (GM) crops in Nigeria.
NABDA Director General, Prof. Abdullahi Mustapha, clarified that approved GM crops in Nigeria, such as the pod borer-resistant cowpea and drought-tolerant TELA maize, have undergone thorough biosafety assessments before receiving approval for commercial planting.
