Key Points
- Nigeria’s biotechnology agency assures public of GMO safety.
- Regulators say GMOs comply with strict international standards.
- GMO safety assurance aims to boost farmers’ confidence.
Nigeria’s National Biosafety Management Agency is pressing ahead with efforts to rebuild public trust in genetically modified organisms. In recent weeks, agency officials have emphasized that Nigeria only approves GMOs after rigorous scientific review—and went further by certifying institutions to enforce those safeguards.
The move comes as Nigeria pushes new GMO maize varieties and seeks to contain public anxiety. Director-General Dr. Agnes Yemisi Asagbra says the agency is determined that GMO safety in Nigeria will not be compromised by politics or public scare.
GMO safety in Nigeria is non-negotiable
According to a report by the Punch news, Asagbra, a microbiologist who previously led the Federal Institute of Industrial Research (FIIRO), told a press briefing in Abuja that every GMO application is vetted by NBMA’s National Biosafety Committee (NBC) and a Technical Advisory Committee. She said the committees include representatives from NAFDAC, the Standard Organisation of Nigeria, NASC, NAQS, universities, and research institutes.
She added that NBMA has now certified nine institutions across Nigeria to conduct activities involving GMOs in food and animal feed—such as research labs and private biotech firms—to strengthen oversight and accountability.
According to NBMA, Nigeria approved four TELA maize varieties (SAMMAZ 72T, 73T, 74T, 75T) for commercialization on January 11, 2024. These drought-tolerant, insect-resistant maize varieties followed environmental release approval granted earlier by NBMA.
GMO safety in Nigeria aligned with global norms
NBMA insists it follows the Cartagena Protocol, Codex Alimentarius, and WHO benchmarks. The agency insists that labeling for GMO products is mandatory under Nigerian regulations—especially when GM content exceeds 4 percent.
But the agency is not blind to public distrust. Asagbra admitted that “biosafety is not well known,” and that misinformation spreads easily. She says that NBMA has been watching 32 supermarkets across the country and is keeping an eye on GMO products to make sure that only approved ones make it to store shelves.
NBMA can suspend or take away GMO approvals if new scientific evidence comes to light or if permit holders break the rules.
Trust and ability are still hard problems to solve
Some people who are watching aren’t sure. Consumer groups are concerned about NBMA’s independence and want more information. Some people are still confused about whether NAFDAC or NBMA is in charge of making sure GMO food is safe.
The National Biotechnology Development Agency (NABDA), which promotes biotech projects in Nigeria, has a lot in common with NBMA’s goals. Critics are worried that that interlock could lead to conflicts of interest.
Farmers who have planted Bt cowpea, on the other hand, say that their pesticide costs have gone down and their yields have gone up. The Nigerian government is betting that safe biotechnologies can help stabilise production as the country deals with rising prices and a lack of food.
Public trust is at the heart of the problem. According to NBMA, it wants to make GMO safety in Nigeria a reality, not just a slogan, by certifying institutions, enforcing strict rules, and getting stakeholders involved.
