Experts reject bio-safety Act re-amendment

Science experts at the public hearing organized by Senate Committee on Environment to amend 2015 National  Biosafety Management Act ( NBMA) have rejected the move made by the distinguished members, saying the action would retrogress science development in Nigeria.

 This position was taken by the partipants after the public hearing held at the upper chamber of senate committee on environment at National Assembly complex, Abuja this week Wednesday.

Prof. Abdulahil Mustapha, Director General, National Agricultural Biotechnology Development Agency (NABDA) said the amendment is not necessary as it would limit the practice of science in Nigeria, stressed that “Nigeria has enacted deliberate policies that had positioned science and technology as the engine to drive the economy, so turning around to set up unnecessary roadblocks will limit science from taking us to our destination"

Prof. Mustapha urged the Senate to jettison the proposed amendment because it is anti people,  and against development.

Prof. Mohammed Ishiyaku, Executive Directive, Institute for Agricultural Research (IAR) said that the NBMA 2015 Act remained the best legal document for the protection of proactive modern biotechnology in Nigeria" pointing that  “amending the bill now will amount to reversing the gains made since the coming of the law in 2015”.

Dr. Rufus Ebegba, Director General, NBMA said the amendment is planned to kill the desire of our scientists towards contribution to the socio-economic development of the nation, while the move would turn Nigeria to a dumping ground of unauthorized Genetically Modified Organisms ( GMOs).

Sharing more light, Prof. Chiedozie Egesi, Nigerian  President, Plant breeders Association, who also represented IITA said that the proposal to amend the Biosafety Bill is retrogressive as it would further reverse the progress already made in biotechnology so far.

Dr. Andrew Iloh, the representative of the DG/CEO SHESTCO reiterated the need to terminate any further move towards amending the Biosafety Act 2015.

The farmers' voice, the President, All-Farmers Association of Nigeria, Arc Kabir Ibrahim emphasized that all the farmers in Nigeria are in support of Biotechnology and any attempt that is targeted at limiting the scope of Biotechnology operation in Nigeria would not be welcome. 

Ibrahim added that Nigerian farmers needs technology that will lift them out of poverty, and  biotechnology is the only solution. 

Also addressing members of the public and Senators present at the public hearing, former President, Genetic Society of Nigeria (GSN) advised that the proposal be thrown into the bin with immediate effect.

African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF) Open Forum on Agricultural Biotechnology (OFAB) Project Manager, Mr. Vitumbiko Chinoko also lent his words against allowing the amendment passage, saying that Nigeria had already established herself as the leading Biosafety driver in Africa.