Genetically Modified Foods: Concerns over safety, Health

It is known that Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) deployment in Nigeria began at the twilight of the last administration when the National Assembly passed the National Bio Safety Agency Bill. The bill which was subsequently signed into law by former President Goodluck Jonathan, authorised biotechnology research and deployment in Nigeria.

Since then, there has been various controversies and debates on the safety or otherwise of the GMOs. Also under contention are the readiness and the ability of the regulatory agencies to ensure that the lives of Nigerians are safe with the new biotechnology.

It is in line with these concerns that more than 100 groups representing over five million Nigerians had in March 2016, strongly opposed bids by Monsanto, a U.S. company, to introduce GM cotton and maize into Nigeria’s food and farming systems.

In their written objections submitted to the biosafety regulators, the groups, comprising farmers, civil society organisations, students and local communities stated numerous serious health and environmental concerns and the failure of these crops, especially the GM cotton in Africa. The groups include Environmental Rights Action Friends of the Earth Nigeria (ERA/ FoEN), Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF), All Nigeria Consumers Movement Union (ANCOMU), Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria (RIFAN), Women Environmental Programme (WEP) and Nigerian Women in Agriculture (NAWIA).

They noted: “Monsanto’s application deceitfully provides no discussion on the potential risks of glysophate use to human and animal health and the environment. Apart from the potential of contaminating local varieties, the health risk of the introduction of genetically modified maize into Nigeria is enormous considering the fact that maize is a staple that all of 170 million Nigerians depend on.”

It was gathered that Monsanto Agricultural Nigeria Limited has applied to the National Biosafety Management Agency (NABMA) for the environmental release and placing in the market in Zaria and surrounding towns of GM cotton (Bt cotton, event MON 15985). A further application is for the confined field trial (CFT) of two GM maize varieties (NK603 and stacked event MON 89034 x NK603) in multiple locations in Nigeria.

It was in the same vein that the Federal Government insisted that there is no Genetically Modified Organism (GMO) officially grown in the country.

The Minister of Environment, Amina Mohammed, urged Nigerians not to panic over the issue of Genetically Modified Organism (GMO).
“At present, no genetically modified organisms are officially grown in Nigeria, Mohammed said but added that, “what we have approval are for field trials”.
“All the GMOs in Nigeria officially approved are under experimental fields” the minister explained, stressing that the insect-resistant cotton for commercial release will still be subjected to further processes for the next two years.

In a statement issued by the Minister through Alhaji Isiaka Yusuf, Director of Press, Federal Ministry of Environment, Hajiya Mohammed stated that the National Bio Safety Management Agency (NBMA), established in 2015, under the Federal Ministry of Environment was charged to among others, ensure proper regulation of modern biotechnological activities and genetically modified organisms so as to protect the lives of Nigerians.

According to her, with the Act in place, Nigeria has taken laudable strides in order to adopt the necessary legal biosafety framework and policy, bearing in mind that if Nigeria gets it right, it will guide other African countries.

Furthermore, Mohammed stated that the quest for Nigeria’s biotechnological advancement dates back to 2001, when the country adopted a National Biotechnology Policy and subsequently established the National Biotechnology Development Agency.
The minister added that over 20 research institutes, private biotechnology firms and universities are also players in the biotechnology sector.

She stated that the Agency is not working alone, as it is partnering with critical stakeholders such as the Nigerian Customs, the Nigerian Civil Defence Corps (NCDC), the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), the Ministry of Justice, Nigeria Agricultural Quarantine Service, National Seed Council, Science and regulatory based institutions, the New Partnership for Africa Development (NEPAD) and African Biosafety Network of Expertise, (ABNE), among others.

She stated that the NBMA has the onerous task to ensure that potential impacts of the GMO on human or animal health, the environment and the socio-economic effects are carefully weighed and the risk assessment fully carried out before being released, she disclosed.

While describing the concerns on GMOs expressed by the public as legitimate, she disclosed that the Federal Ministry of Environment, in collaboration with the National Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA), is organising an experts meeting, involving Civil Society groups, National Agencies and International Organisations to address all concerns expressed, with a view to clarifying the Nigeria’s position on the use of GMOs.

Also the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh had on June 17 this year clarified its ministry’s stance on genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in Nigeria.

In a meeting with the agencies responsible for biotechnology in Nigeria to ascertain the safety of research results for humans and our environment, he was assured that all was safe.

“However, not long ago, the debate on GMOs safety was open and we have learnt that earlier claims made by a Kenyan Harvard Professor, who has been in the forefront of promoting GMOs, haven’t been exactly accurate. For the purpose of unified communication, the three ministries are meeting to ensure that we get the facts right and all speak with one voice on the GMO issue. An official position will be issued when we are done with our own research and consultations.”

With all these government promises and assurances on the safety of the GMOs, the questions are; how many Nigerians know about Genetically Modified foods? Is government doing enough in educating Nigerians on the issue? Why the choice of the GMOs and how healthy are they? When will the trials and experiments on it end and when will the Nigeria-made GMOs be prevalent in the Nigerian markets? How ready are the regulatory agencies to tackle the excesses of the players in the industry and ensure safety of lives?

It has even been rumoured that some imported GMO foods are already on display on supermarket aisles in the country.