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The Minister of Environment, Amina Mohammed has called on Nigerians not to panic over the issue of Genetically Modified Organism (GMO). She said presently no genetically modified organisms are officially grown in Nigeria.
The Minister stated that, “what we have approval are for field trials”. “All the GMOs in Nigeria officially approved are under experimental fields, citing the insect resistant cotton for commercial release will still be subjected to further processes for the next two years, she added.
In a statement issued by the Minister today Monday, 20th June, 2016 in Abuja, she stated that the National Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA), established in 2015, under the Federal Ministry of Environment was charged to among others, ensure proper regulation of modern biotechnological activities and genetically modified organisms so as to protect the lives of Nigerians.
According to her, with the Act in place, Nigeria has taken laudable strides in order to adopt the necessary legal biosafety framework and policy, bearing in mind that if Nigeria gets it right, it will guide other African countries.
Furthermore, Amina Mohammed stated that the quest for Nigeria’s biotechnological advancement dates back to 2001 when the country adopted a National Biotechnology Policy and subsequently established the National Biotechnology Development Agency, adding that over 20 Research Institutes, private biotechnology firms and universities are also players in the biotechnology sector.
She stated that the Agency is not working alone, as it is partnering with critical stakeholders such as the Nigerian Customs, the Nigerian Civil Defence Corps (NCDC), the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), the Ministry of Justice, Nigeria Agricultural Quarantine Service, National Seed Council, Science and regulatory based institutions, the New Partnership for Africa Development (NEPAD) and African Biosafety Network of Expertise, (ABNE), among others.
The NBMA has the onerous task to ensure that potential impacts of the GMO on human or animal health, the environment and the socio-economic effects are carefully weighed and the risk assessment fully carried out before being released, she disclosed.
While describing the concerns on GMOs expressed by the public as legitimate, she disclosed that the Federal Ministry of Environment, in collaboration with the National Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA), is organising an experts meeting, involving Civil Society groups, National Agencies and International Organisations to address all concerns expressed, with a view to clarifying the Nigeria’s position on the use of GMOs.
She enjoined the citizenry to cooperate with the Federal Government in its quest to diversify the Nigerian economy for the present and future generations, adding “Nigerians should be rest assured of the protection of their health and environment by the National Biosafety Management Agency”.
Alhaji Isiaka Yusuf
Director Press
Federal Ministry of Environment
FURTHER ARGUMENT
Babajide Iletogun Correct! It's really in the place of the Hon. Minister to do this!
Philomena Desmond Monsanto.is known worldwide.for that so i do not trust them.
Dehinde Ayeni You pple need to deploy more social media expert with sound knowledge of GMO to help in this enlighnment sensitization to eradicate this wrong misgivings on this new improved technology to enhance agricultural production.
Gainako Pullo Bi Bello Sir, Please why is it that European countries are not using it? Also what makes Russia to send them packing?
Dehinde Ayeni @Bi Bello my friend....i may not want to go direct to your question for obvious reasons...but Europe is very protective of her technologies..so the best way to protect their market is to be very critical of any competing technologies like GMO...why Nigeria cannot dabble into this economic politics btw Europe and America is because of climate change vagaries that are taking a devasting tolls on our agricultural productivity....pest, diseases and drough is destroying our produce....and the population is increasing unabated...so we need an improved technology through GMO. Again for effective operation, Nigeria has put an act of operation of this new technology in place to checkmate any fear or doubt.... and also its operation in food crops has not fully started ...they are still at trial stage...check out IAR, Zaira...they are working on bt cotton...and cowpea to the best of my knowledge....check out Prof. Ishayaku of IAR, Zaria for further detail. I think what every Nigerian should be most concerned about is the knowing of the law that gives them protection against their fears....otherwise science is not waiting for anyone..our Open Pollinated Varieties(OPV) cannot give the high yield and resistant to drought and pest diseases.
Gainako Pullo Bi Bello Ok sir, but what of the side effects of GMO? Monsanto is from which country? Why did Russia kick them out recently? Please read the below post : Genetically modified organisms (GMO’s) are a broad group of plants, animals, and bacteria that are engineered for a wide variety of applications ranging from agricultural production to scientific research. The types of potential hazards posed by GMO’s vary according to the type of organism being modified and its intended application. Most of the concern surrounding GMO’s relates to their potential for negative effects on the environment and human health. Because GMO’s that could directly effect human health are primarily products that can enter the human food supply, this website focuses on genetically modified food. To date, the only types of products that have been approved for human consumption in the U.S. are genetically modified plants (FDA website).
All genetically modified foods that have been approved are considered by the government to be as safe as their traditional counterparts and are generally unregulated (FDA website). However, there are several types of potential health effects that could result from the insertion of a novel gene into an organism. Health effects of primary concern to safety assessors are production of new allergens, increased toxicity, decreased nutrition, and antibiotic resistance (Bernstein et al., 2003).
Food Allergy
Food Allergy affects approximately 5% of children and 2% of adults in the U.S. and is a significant public health threat (Bakshi, 2003). Allergic reactions in humans occur when a normally harmless protein enters the body and stimulates an immune response (Bernstein et al., 2003). If the novel protein in a GM food comes from a source that is know to cause allergies in humans or a source that has never been consumed as human food, the concern that the protein could elicit an immune response in humans increases. Although no allergic reactions to GM food by consumers have been confirmed, in vitro evidence suggesting that some GM products could cause an allergic reaction has motivated biotechnology companies to discontinue their development (Bakshi, 2003).
Increased Toxicity
Most plants produce substances that are toxic to humans. Most of the plants that humans consume produce toxins at levels low enough that they do not produce any adverse health effects. There is concern that inserting an exotic gene into a plant could cause it to produce toxins at higher levels that could be dangerous to humans. This could happen through the process of inserting the gene into the plant. If other genes in the plant become damaged during the insertion process it could cause the plant to alter its production of toxins. Alternatively, the new gene could interfere with a metabolic pathway causing a stressed plant to produce more toxins in response. Although these effects have not been observed in GM plants, they have been observed through conventional breeding methods creating a safety concern for GM plants. For example, potatoes conventionally bred for increased diseased resistance have produced higher levels of glycoalkaloids (GEO-PIE website).
Decreased Nutritional Value
A genetically modified plant could theoretically have lower nutritional quality than its traditional counterpart by making nutrients unavailable or indigestible to humans. For example, phytate is a compound common in seeds and grains that binds with minerals and makes them unavailable to humans. An inserted gene could cause a plant to produce higher levels of phytate decreasing the mineral nutritional value of the plant (GEO-PIE). Another example comes from a study showing that a strain of genetically modified soybean produced lower levels of phytoestrogen compounds, believed to protect against heart disease and cancer, than traditional soybeans (Bakshi, 2003).
Antibiotic resistance
In recent years health professionals have become alarmed by the increasing number of bacterial strains that are showing resistance to antibiotics. Bacteria develop resistance to antibiotics by creating antibiotic resistance genes through natural mutation. Biotechnologists use antibiotic resistance genes as selectable markers when inserting new genes into plants. In the early stages of the process scientists do not know if the target plant will incorporate the new gene into its genome. By attaching the desired gene to an antibiotic resistance gene the new GM plant can be tested by growing it in a solution containing the corresponding antibiotic. If the plant survives scientists know that it has taken up the antibiotic resistance gene along with the desired gene. There is concern that bacteria living in the guts of humans and animals could pick up an antibiotic resistance gene from a GM plant before the DNA becomes completely digested (GEO-PIE website).
It is not clear what sort of risk the possibility of conferring antibiotic resistance to bacteria presents. No one has ever observed bacteria incorporating new DNA from the digestive system under controlled laboratory conditions. The two types of antibiotic resistance genes used by biotechnologists are ones that already exist in bacteria in nature so the process would not introduce new antibiotic resistance to bacteria. Never the less it is a concern and the FDA is encouraging biotechnologists to phase out the practice of using antibiotic resistance genes (GEO-PIE website).
Dehinde Ayeni @Bi Bello...i also initially expressed my anxiety about the negative health implication of GMO especially when the Bt Act has need been signed. But all had gone with an act in place....There is no technology without its negatives and positive sides... if you looked too much on the adverse side without a critical analyses of what you stand to gain, one may have himself to blame. Importantly government institutions must be up and doing as regards bt act for the safety of people through ensuring standard to checkmate inherent consequences without fear or favour. Traceability of products must be well enforced to identified fake companies..Monsanto may have not complied to this in Russia...maybe that is why it was sent packing... that does not mean others are affected. Likes of Monsanto will be compelled to comply when your laws are not compromised. Like i said earlier more enlightment is still needed on this technologies especially on the right of people on consumption of any food poison irrespective of BT...as long as it is a food product with traeacibility. This is my take...my friend Bello..
Gainako Pullo Bi Bello Sir, the gain doesn't go beyond 5yrs but the effects is for life
John Audu Ogweje How did she know did she visited farm north south east and west
Gainako Pullo Bi Bello GMO is bad and it won't help us medically.
Gainako Pullo Bi Bello why is it that it's civil servants who are defending Monsanto?
John Audu Ogweje While we comme:nt t'@@s he hon. Minister say they are test running in lab yet and not yet circular mkt y are we saying is gd as far as the evidence provided in berekete is there we stand to say GMO is not healthy for consumption until Gov come with superior evidence. I sand to condemn GMO is killer.
Gainako Pullo Bi Bello Oga John, do you believe they have a good lab?
Gainako Pullo Bi Bello GMO is a killer and we all know that. Am sure by the time Nigerians know, those in NABDA who gave approval on Sunday will be sacked.
John Audu Ogweje They do but jst confusing people yet they can't made their result public for confirmation let them come out and attest for its healthy i don't know y idika is strongly behind them.
John Audu Ogweje We can not be a scientist before comment since the prof. and Chairman of biosafety from uni-jos says for security reasons he cannot comment on his safety or dangers attracted.
Gainako Pullo Bi Bello Genetically modified organisms (GMO’s) are a broad group of plants, animals, and bacteria that are engineered for a wide variety of applications ranging from agricultural production to scientific research. The types of potential hazards posed by GMO’s vary according to the type of organism being modified and its intended application. Most of the concern surrounding GMO’s relates to their potential for negative effects on the environment and human health. Because GMO’s that could directly effect human health are primarily products that can enter the human food supply, this website focuses on genetically modified food. To date, the only types of products that have been approved for human consumption in the U.S. are genetically modified plants (FDA website).
Gainako Pullo Bi Bello The Minister too is not a scientist but a development expert
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