Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF), an ecology-focused non-governmental organisation (NGO), and the GMO-Free Nigeria Alliance have commended the House of Representatives on its resolution on Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs).
The groups said the lawmakers’ resolution to comprehensively investigate GMOs was laudable.
The groups’ position was conveyed in a statement signed by Ms Kome Odhomor, HOMEF’s Media/Communication Lead on Friday, May 17, 2024.
The resolution seeks a halt on approval of new products pending the completion of the investigation.
This resolution followed the adoption of the motion by Rep. Muktar Shagaya at a plenary session on Thursday.
The groups noted that the investigation, which was long overdue, was vital to save the country from the dangerous path to food colonialism, and contamination of genetic resources.
They said it would also check loss of biodiversity/nutritional diversity, soil degradation, and overall disruption of the nation’s agriculture and food systems.
“As the lawmaker rightly explained, the introduction of GMOs in Nigeria raises serious concerns about safety, regulatory oversight, and their potential impacts on the country’s biosafety.’’
The statement quoted the Executive Director of HOMEF, Dr Nnimmo Bassey, as saying that investigation must be unbiased and thorough.
“To ensure this, the National Assembly should engage independent researchers to avoid contamination of the process by GMO promoters.
“This investigation should consider Nigeria’s agricultural landscape and investigate the underlying causes of hunger/food insecurity and as well establish definite measures to address those issues.
“This is the time to rescue Nigerians from being used for risky experimentations.”
The groups said there was need to critically examine the National Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA) Act for its fitness for purpose.
“That law needs to be completely reworked to close existing loopholes including the composition of its governing/decision making board by excluding GMOs promoters such as NBMA.
“The lack of provision on strict liability, inadequate public consultation measures, absolute decision-making powers of the agency, minimal reference to the precautionary principle and many others.”
On the directive by the Reps to National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) to ensure labelling of GM crops already in the country, the group noted that it was a herculean task.
They said that the agency would need to devise strategies to have foods sold in local markets in basins, by the roadsides and in processed forms like “Ogi and Akara” labelled to ensure informed decision-making by the majority of people who purchased food from those sources.
“This exercise will prove that GMOs do not fit our socio-economic context; over the years, market shelf surveys conducted by HOMEF have revealed over 50 different processed/packaged foods labelled as produced using genetically modified ingredients.
“The survey has also revealed the fact that majority of our people do not read labels.’’
The groups advised that permits for commercialisation of the Bt Cowpea, Tela Maize, Bt Corn and all other GMOs be suspended pending the result of the investigation by the House Committee on Agriculture and others.
They reaffirmed the submission by Shagaya that the country needed to prioritise public health, biodiversity, increased support of small holder farmers in terms of extension service, provision of infrastructure to curtail waste.
The groups said that peasant farmers need access to credits, access to land and the growth of the local economy.
According to them, Nigeria should adopt agroecological farming which aligns well with the country’s socio-economic and socio-cultural context.
“Agroecology delivers increased productivity and economic resilience, revises/nourishes ecosystems.
“It strengthens local economies, mitigates climate change and promotes food sovereignty,” the groups said.
By Nathan Nwakamma
