Calls for a critical examination of the approval procedures for Genetically Modified (GM) crops in Nigeria have been raised by experts in the public health sector. Concerns have been expressed regarding the safety and testing protocols involved in the approval process, amidst ongoing debates about the potential impact of GM crops on human health and the environment.
The National Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA) granted a certificate in January 2024 for the commercial release and open cultivation of TELA Maize, genetically modified to resist fall armyworm, stem borers, and tolerate moderate drought conditions. However, Professor Qrisstuberg Amua, Executive Director of the Centre for Food Safety and Agricultural Research (CEFSAR), has emphasized the need for transparency and public scrutiny in the approval process, especially considering the widespread consumption of such crops.
Addressing a symposium on Food Security Today and Tomorrow in Abuja, Professor Amua urged Nigerians and regulatory bodies to address key questions regarding the safety tests conducted on TELA maize. These questions include the nature of the tests, the number of varieties tested, the research facilities involved, and the identities of Nigerian scientists conducting the tests. Furthermore, he stressed the importance of making the results and methodologies of these tests available for public examination, preferably through publication in scientific journals for peer review.
Professor Amua’s plea extends to the government and legislators, urging them to reconsider the swift approval of TELA maize. He advocates for a more comprehensive research approach that takes into account the potential long-term effects on public health and genetics.
Nnimmo Bassey, Director of the Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF), echoed similar sentiments, warning that the proliferation of GMOs in Nigeria could lead to a loss of biodiversity and food sovereignty. Bassey, represented at the event by Mariann Bassey, called for the outright ban of all GMOs in Nigeria, urging farmers to embrace agroecology farming methods using indigenous seeds instead.