Nigeria: Agency warns against consumption of genetically-modified foods

According to a recent report in The Guardian the Nigerian National Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA) has warned the public of genetically-modified products that are on offer in some stores. None of the products has yet been approved for local and commercial consumption, NBMA explains.

The items should be withdrawn from the Nigerian market, says Dr Rufus Ebegba, Executive Director of the agency. He adds the agency had started working with some major stores because there is no commercial genetically-modified food yet approved in Nigeria.The only regulatory agency is the NBMA.

The NBMA is working on a survey together with the super-stores to build confidence and to avoid panic of consumers.“It is part of our operational means of ensuring that Nigerians are given the best and they do not consume what they do not know. We want to ensure that what we consume in this country are only what are safe. Nigerians should be assured that the NBMA would ensure that the technology is properly used and the products are not harmful in human consumption”, Ebegba said The Guardian.

In May this year a conference took place and released the following:

At the conclusion of the conference on Just Governance: The Nigerian Biosafety Law, GMOs, and Implications for Nigeria and Africa held May 23-25, 2016. We, the participants from diverse religious and faith based bodies, communities and civil society organizations (CSOs) from Nigeria, Africa and other parts of the world, affirm that organic foods  are healthy, nutritious and remain a vital aspect of human rights to food and food security. Nnimmo Bassey (Executive Director HOMEF) also participated the Monsanto Tribunal in The Hague in October 2016.