A non-governmental organisation, Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF), has called on government to ban the importation of Genetically Modified (GM) food products and crops into Nigeria due to their health risks.
Addressing newsmen on Monday after a rally at the Unity Fountain Abuja, Mr. Nnimmo Bassey, director of HOMEF, decried the risks posed by genetically modified food products being illegally imported into Nigeria.
He noted that a recent market survey carried out by the organisation in 10 cities in Nigeria revealed that there were presence of 30 imported genetically products, mostly of cereals and vegetable oil.
According to Bassey, “Gathered here today are representatives of farmers, consumers, civil society organisations, scientists, youth and women groups in a rally to publicly denounce the unchecked admission into Nigeria of GM crops and food products.
“These pose great risk and threats to our food system, bio-safety and overall wellbeing. We are rallying to increase public awareness on the implications of agricultural biotechnology and call for a ban on genetically modified crops and food products in Nigeria.
However, in an interview, Dr. Rufus Ebegba, director general of NBMA, described the allegations levelled against his agency as spurious and devoid of scientific evidence.
According to Elegba, “The responsibility of NBMA is to ensure that GM products brought into the country are safe for consumption.
“We carry out risk assessments and there are methods we use. First, we place publications on three National Dailies for the public to react to.
“We have realised that HOMEF allegations are not scientifically based.”
They cannot prove that people have died as a result of consumption of GM food, without scientific evidence.”
Bassey added. “Nigerians demand safe foods, protected bio-diversity for the benefit of our farmers and consumers.
“In Nigeria, besides the reality that there are no proper risks assessments conducted, the public is largely unaware of the type of food that is on their plates and while other nations are taking steps to ban the use of GMOs and review their bio-safety laws, our government is bent on introducing more GM crops into the environment as it prepares to release a variety of cowpea which is acclaimed to be resistant to the maruca insect pest.”
Bassey alleged that, National Bio-Safety Management Agency (NBMA), the agency in Nigeria saddled with the responsibility of regulating GM products has been compromised as a result, takes the health and well-being of Nigerians for granted.
He alleged that NBMA approves nearly every application brought to it without proper safety assessments, without public opinion or the impact of proposed activities or the concerns raised by the public.
He further said NBMA recently gave approval of importation of GM maize by WACOT Ltd in December 2018, just a few weeks after the company had tried to smuggle the grain into the country.
This approval, according to Bassey, was done in bad faith, as the provisions of the law were disregarded as it is required that a minimum of 270 days be given before any application is approved for proper impact assessment.
He said, “This buttresses the fact that the law is constantly disregarded and the health or safety of the people and environment is taken for granted. We need change to protect our farmers.
“In September, the NBMA granted approval to the International Institute of tropical Agriculture and ETH laboratory in Zurich to carry out field trials of a novel GM cassava in Nigeria which has not been tested anywhere else in the world.”
He added that NBMA hurriedly granted permits to these companies and research institutions for the purpose of importation of GM crops, including field trial, feed processing and processing of edible oil.
“We base our decision on scientific proofs and national interest. We make sure that products are safe before we grant permits.
“The HOMEF has not found time to come and see what we are doing. They just sit down and start writing falsehood to deceive the public. It is quite unfortunate.
The Director General of NBMA further explained that rigorous processes were observed before permits are granted by the agency.
He added that the agency set up various committees made up of experts and academics in various fields to verify the GM products, adding that often the decisions of the agency are guided by the recommendations of the these committees.
“Our interest is to ensure that safety of Nigerians and ensure that our environment is protected. We have what it takes to do this.
“Our agency is rated as one of the best in Africa. This people are fronting for international partners. We will not be deterred by their criticisms and allegations,” he asserted.
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