Agricultural stakeholders have called for legislative action on genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in Nigeria, urging lawmakers to review existing regulations and strengthen food safety safeguards.

They made the call on Friday during a World Food Day media briefing at the National Assembly Complex, Abuja, where the LoveWorld Ministry of Food Technology and Sovereignty launched the Let’s Go Planting initiative in partnership with the Centre for Food Safety and Agricultural Research (CEFSAR).

Speaking at the event, the Executive Director of the Centre for Agriculture and Food Policy Research Advocacy (CAfPRA) and Deputy Director of CEFSAR, Segun Adebayo, recalled that Muktar Shagaya, a member of the House of Representatives, moved a motion on May 16, 2024, seeking an investigation into the safety of GMOs.

He said the motion sought to suspend the technology pending an investigation and was referred to the House Committee on Agricultural Production and Services.

Adebayo said concerns raised during a subsequent public hearing warranted a review of the National Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA) Act.

He also questioned the relationship between organisations promoting agricultural biotechnology and those involved in regulating it, arguing that potential conflicts required legislative scrutiny.

Beyond the GMO debate, he warned that dependence on foreign seeds could undermine Nigeria’s food sovereignty, particularly where farmers could not replant harvested seeds.

He called for investment in locally produced, regenerative and indigenous seeds that farmers could preserve and reuse, while urging Nigerians to grow food in backyards, gardens and school compounds.

“Everybody must eat. Food is not discriminatory. But we have to be very careful about what we eat because what we eat matters a great deal,” he said.

Adebayo described the planting campaign as a practical response to food insecurity, adding, “Let’s Go Planting is not just a slogan; it is a call to action.”

In her opening address, the Executive Minister of the LoveWorld Ministry of Food Technology and Sovereignty, Pastor Ifeoma Chiemeka, said the initiative sought to encourage individuals, families and communities to participate actively in food production.

She expressed concern that restrictive seed patents and powerful commercial interests could limit farmers’ independence and weaken national control over food systems.

“Let’s Go Planting is more than a campaign. It is a worldwide awakening,” Chiemeka said.

She said the initiative would promote organic farming, indigenous seeds and regenerative agricultural practices, while calling for collaboration with the government to improve access to safe, nutritious and affordable food.

The ministry’s Director of Agriculture, Pastor Tom Obiazi, expressed concern about pesticides and other agricultural chemicals, arguing that agricultural progress should account for soil health, environmental protection and human wellbeing, not just crop yields.

He advocated wider adoption of organic farming and suitable alternatives to potentially harmful chemicals.

Similarly, the Chief Executive Officer of Women Food, Juliet Okumoku Eniakor, stressed the importance of quality organic seeds.

She said her company prioritised such seeds for farmers supplying its food-processing operations and described the initiative as an opportunity to promote sustainable agriculture and healthier food choices.

Representing the LoveWorld Ministry of Food Sovereignty, Ifeanyi Nwaokolo called for stronger collaboration among farmers, researchers, investors, food processors and distributors.

He said access to diverse seed varieties that farmers could replant would strengthen domestic production and reduce reliance on external suppliers.

Meanwhile, the Chairman of the House Committee on Nutrition and Food Security, Chike Okafor, represented by the committee’s clerk, Adm. Agenti Milicent, said lawmakers were working to strengthen Nigeria’s nutrition framework.

Okafor disclosed that 32 states had established nutrition and food security committees, leading to the formation of the National Legislative Network on Nutrition and Food Security.

He said the network was developing proposals to address nutrition challenges, including extending maternity leave to six months and regulating the sale of adulterated vegetable oils in open markets.

He added that the Nutritionists Registration Council of Nigeria Bill (HB.2659) had passed second reading in the House of Representatives, with a public hearing scheduled for October 20, 2026.

The National Nutrition Bill, an executive bill, was also at an advanced stage ahead of its transmission to the National Assembly.

Okafor identified effective oversight of nutrition funding, protection of local food systems and safeguards against the marketing of unhealthy foods to children as key priorities.

He warned that malnutrition and food insecurity continued to threaten Nigeria’s socioeconomic development, with inflation making nutritious meals increasingly unaffordable for many households.

On GMOs, Okafor said his committee was consulting relevant agencies and legislative committees but had yet to conclude its assessment.

“We are on the study and talking to our sister agencies, our sister committees to see what we can do,” he said, expressing hope that the 11th National Assembly would give the issue greater attention.

The stakeholders called for stronger domestic seed production, sustainable farming and effective nutrition policies, urging households, businesses and government institutions to work together to improve food security.