Editorial:Need to build capacity for the signed bio technology bill

The signing by the President, Federal Republic of Nigeria, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan (GCFR) into law the bio-technology bill has finally put to rest all controversies on Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) of plants and animals in the country.

In fact the signing of this bill is a reflection of government’s responsiveness to creating enabling environment for the operation of the new technology as some of them are already taking advantages of our porous security borders to find their ways into the country thereby heightening the curiosity of wrecking negative havoc on human health.

Most importantly considering the effect of climate change in quest to building of the non oil sector of the nation’s economy, then the injection of the new technology into our economy may not be out of place coupled with the increasing population in the face of food insecurity and its associated challenges occasioned by climate change.

Day by Day conventional crops and animals are being destroyed due to inability to give resistance to diseases and pest with conventional science has not got solution unless the use or application of a stronger means of biotechnology through genes enhancement from another source to build resistance against pests like the case of bt cowpea and bt cotton which farmers are now demanding to plant for better yield. 

We share the view that Nigeria in the face of taking agriculture as a business cannot but embrace a technology like Bt to assist farmers from losses and over head cost as it is worthy of note that GMO plants may not need fertilizers application or any other pest chemicals to grow as all these may not be necessary again. 

As much as we are aware of all these advantages, the practice of this new technology in the country is still a question of doubt to us and many others who believe  that the issue of capacity of government’s agencies that will ensure the efficient practice of the bio technology are seriously in doubt, and government needs to come up with a position paper that will guarantee safety. We are aware that the poor funding of research in Nigeria might not give sufficient capacity to majority of the Agricultural Research Institutes who have great role to play in the research, testing and certification of the new products that will be entering the country before farmers are allowed to use them so as to avoid further land depletion. 

 We may want to know how prepared is agencies like NAFDAC, Nigeria Agricultural Seeds Council (NASC), Bio-technology Council, Nigeria Agricultural Quarantine Service, Nigerian Custom Service, Nigerian Consumers’ Council and the rest in this line that will ensure efficient operation of the new technology. It is no more news that government disposition to research development is day by day going below the stomach belt and which is one of the reasons for our great concern on the need for building capacity of the relevant agencies who are to ensure the smooth operation of the bill thereby allaying the fears of those who are totally against it  as their arguments are that we have not exhausted all the  conventional scientific methods available before jumping into bio technology practice or legally allowing the entrance of its products into the country.

In as much we do not want to throw this issue into argument because of our knowledge of what its practice would attract in terms of new economic development especially in the face of dwindling oil price in the world, we are compelled to advise that a special fund must be put in place for capacity building in this regards so that our land is not flooded with products that might create what we did not bargain for thereby shortening the quality of our lands and as well putting food security issue in more tight corners.