The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to the safe use of biotechnology and Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) as part of efforts to improve food security and safeguard public health.
The assurance came during a sensitization workshop in Abuja, organized by the National Biotechnology Research and Development Agency (NBRDA) in partnership with the Open Forum on Agricultural Biotechnology (OFAB). The forum brought together policymakers, scientists, regulators, and development partners.
Representing the Director of the Food and Drug Services Department, Pharmacist Olubunmi Aribeana, Mr. John Atanda, National Coordinator of the Food Safety and Quality Programme, said the Federal Government ensures that every GMO product undergoes rigorous risk assessments covering allergenicity, nutritional composition, long-term health effects, and environmental impacts.
“With robust regulations, including labelling and traceability protocols, we aim to reinforce transparency and public trust,” Atanda stated.
Director-General of NBRDA, Professor Abdullahi Mustapha, highlighted the gains of biotechnology adoption in Nigeria, citing yield increases of over 50 percent in TELA maize trials, reduced pesticide use in Bt cowpea, and higher cotton productivity.
“These results are not theoretical; they represent real harvests and real gains for farming households,” Mustapha said, stressing that biotechnology, when responsibly governed, supports food security, healthier communities, and economic growth under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
The workshop, held at Johnwood Hotel, Abuja, featured expert presentations on biotechnology’s role in addressing low productivity, clarifying the science behind GMOs, and tackling opposition narratives.
