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‘GMO field trial records steady progress in Nigeria’

By Cornelius Essen, Abuja
27 August 2018   |   3:35 am
Scientific community has recorded unprecedented success with the two main feats showing that Genetically-Modified Organisms (GMO) would be adopted in Nigeria.It all started when National Variety Release Committee (NVRC) approved the release of two varieties of genetically-modified cotton at its meeting in Ibadan.

Scientific community has recorded unprecedented success with the two main feats showing that Genetically-Modified Organisms (GMO) would be adopted in Nigeria.It all started when National Variety Release Committee (NVRC) approved the release of two varieties of genetically-modified cotton at its meeting in Ibadan.

A statement by Dr. Rose M. Gidado of National Biotechnology Development Agency (NBDA) said it approved the official registration of 2Bt cotton varieties, MRC7377 BG11 and MRC7361 BG11.“This makes it the first genetically modified crop to be approved for planting in Nigeria. Succour has come to our farmers and textile industry.“We commended the Federal High Court in Abuja, which struck out a case instituted by civil societies, challenging National Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA),” the statement said.

Gidado, who said the judgment had brought to a close the long orchestrated legal battle canvassed by the anti-genetically modified activists who never believed in our scientists, stressed: “It also shows that the acceptance of the technology has been legally confirmed in Nigeria, and the era of spreading unscientific rumours is over here.

“The victory is significant in a way that it has validated the 2015 NBMA Act as a law that can stand a test of time, having undergone all kinds of rigorous review and ratifications by the nation’s parliament.”

“This new variety that has just been officially registered, has also the potential of being adopted in all cotton growing zones of the country, with maturity of 150 to 160 days.”

In addition, it is resistant to Bollworms complex, which has a high seed cotton yield, and its early maturity. It is tolerant to suckling insect pests, and has fibre length of 30.0 to 30.5mm.The statement, however, said that the feat achieved by this registration shows that the Federal Government’s investment in our research institutes was not in vain. Nigeria has registered its homegrown genetically-modified cotton.

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