Genetically modified cotton, cowpea to be available in Nigeria by 2018 -- Official

cowpea

Abuja, March 4, 2016 (NAN)The National Bio-Safety Management Agency (NBMA) says genetically modified cotton and cowpea will be made available in the Nigerian markets as from 2018.


The Director-General of the agency, Mr Rufus Ebegba, gave this indication at a news conference on Thursday in Abuja.

He said that the agency would ensure their safety before the release of the cotton and cowpea currently undergoing ``confined field trials”.


``Federal Government will not release any genetically modified organism that is not good for Nigerians.
``Before any Genetically Modified Organism is either produced within this country or imported into Nigeria, we must sieve then, it must pass through the safety valve to make sure it passes through our checks, risk assessment will be carried out and we will analyse it.

``We already have a Genetically Modified Organism laboratory for detection and analysis.``We will test and see that whatever you have claimed that you have put in that organism does not have any adverse impact on the environment.

``We shall also ensure that these Genetically Modified Organisms are substantially equivalent to the conventional one. ``So, Nigerians should rest assured that the agency is well prepared. ``The one that may likely be released in 2018 is that of the cotton; cowpea may likely be 2020.''

According to Ebegba, the agency is profiling other imported Genetically Modified Organism suspects and surveying them to ensure they were safe for human consumption and the Nigeria environment.

He explained that modern biotechnology is a science of moving a trait, inheritance of an organism into another one so that the organism will behave in that manner.

The director-general said by adopting this technology, the agency had the responsibility to ensure safety in the Nigerian environment and human health.

``The NBMA was established to strengthen government’s position under a legal framework by using the tool of biotechnology to enhance Nigerian economy.

``Bio- safety Management Agency is the safety guard that the government has adopted to ensure that the practice of biotechnology is safe,’’.

Ebegba said it had begun to sanction institutions, companies and agencies involved in biotechnology that were yet to formalise its dealings with the agency.

The director-general said that offenders were liable to five-year imprisonment or fine of N2.5 million in accordance with the Act establishing the agency.

He, however, said the agency would soon embark on sensitisation of farmers and the public to the safety of biotechnology. (NAN)