The National Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA), has assured of the deployment of biotechnology tool that would not pose threat to human health and the biodiversity at large, to boost food production and ensure biosecurity in the country.
The Director General, National Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA), Dr. Rufus Ebegba, disclosed this at the National Biosafety-cum-Biosecurity Conference, nothing that the growing population requires safe ingenious method to provide sufficient food for Nigerians.
Ebegba pointed out that the agency was not established to stop genetically modified organisms but to protect against biothreats, adding that the National Biosecurity policy developed by the NBMA is world standard and first of its kind in Africa.
Stakeholders Oppose Proposed Amendment of NBMA Act
“Let me also recognize the contributions of the various stakeholders to the development of this national policy. For the last one year, we had received other biosafety regulators who came to understudy our biosafety and biosecurity system.’’
The Minister of Environment, Mohammed H. Abduallahi, represented by the Director of Human Resources, Mr. Lawrence Adigwe said the Federal Government remains committed to addressing food insecurity in the country.
AATF Urges Africa to Disregard GMO Propaganda
He said the ministry of environment is ready to continue partnering all stakeholders to exploit relevant technologies that will provide safe and adequate food for Nigerians, explaining that food security is important to the stability and survival of every nation.
According to him, the NBMA under the environment ministry will not rest on its oars till the establishing mandate is achieved, urging all hands to be on deck to protect biodiversity, while deploying agricultural biotechnology to boost food production.
