The National Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA) says Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO) approved by the Federal Government are a hundred percent safe for consumption as such Nigerians consuming such GMO based foods have no cause to worry.
Director General and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of NBMA, Dr. Rufus Ebegba made this clarification during a One-Day Sensitization Workshop the agency organized in collaboration with Program for Biosafety Systems for journalists and some staff of ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) Thursday, April 28, 2022 in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
Dr. Ebegba, who commended the Media for their job in disseminating information, however, urged them to only spread verified and right information so as not to mislead the general public.
He explained that there is need for journalists to inform the public that there are only three seed processes approved by the Federal Government which include PBR Cowpea, Tela Maize and BT Cotton.
He added that at the NBMA, safety is their watchword and the Federal Government’s aim is to protect the health of its citizenry and that is the reason why there over 11 research institutes and biotech agencies that carry out thorough and constant researches to come out with safe GMOs.
He further added that GMOs are not made from chemicals but they are genetic so they are not harmful and that during the genetic transferal process, due safety diligence is adhered to.
The NBMA boss explained that the main goal of biotechnology is to use living organisms and biological processes to improve life on earth and that the application of biotechnology has helped saved millions of lives, food growth and supply.
He added further that Nigeria is already leading Africa out of food and nutrition insecurity that biotech is life itself.
According to him, the agency has set surveillance in motion to monitor the inflow of GMOs into the country to ensure they are safe for use.
To achieve this objective, the NBMA is partnering with the Nigerian Agricultural Quarantine Service, National Seed Council, Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), the Media, NGOs, Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), Ministries of Health and Environment, and the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), among other government agencies.
He reiterated that the Federal Government is mindful of the potential benefits of biotech to the wellbeing of humanity hence, it established the NBMA in 2015 to ensure the GMO’s safety, adding that GMOs are processes which involve the addition or deletion of genes to achieve a genetically enhanced organism.
Dr Ebegba called on journalists to follow and spread only facts about GMOs without bias in order not to discredit the Federal Government’s efforts and to misinform the public.
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