The Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare has announced plans to enforce stringent regulatory measures, including mandatory labelling and traceability, for genetically modified (GM) crops to ensure safety, transparency, and public trust.
The disclosure was made by Mr. John Atanda, Director of Food and Drug Service, during a GMO sensitisation workshop for directorate officers in Abuja, organized by the Open Forum for Agricultural Biotechnology (OFAB) on August 31, 2025.
Atanda emphasized collaboration with agencies like the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and the National Biotechnology Management Agency (NBMA) to enforce proper GMO labelling.
He reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to public health, stating that all biotech products will undergo rigorous risk assessments evaluating allergenicity, nutritional content, long-term health effects, and environmental impact.
“Every product born from modern biotechnology will meet the highest safety standards,” Atanda assured.
Dr. Rose Gidado, Nigeria Country Director for OFAB, highlighted the global safety record of GMOs, used in 45 countries for over 30 years.
“The government cannot give poison to its people,” she said, debunking myths about GM crops causing widespread harm.
Gidado stressed that GMOs result from evidence-based research and warned that Nigeria’s failure to invest in such research could perpetuate reliance on food imports.
Prof. Abdullahi Mustapha, Director-General of the National Biotechnology Development and Research Agency (NABDA), cited a 50% yield increase for farmers planting GM maize (TELLA Maize).
He also noted that pod borer-resistant cowpea has reduced insecticide use, boosted yields, and delivered strong returns on investment, underscoring the economic and agricultural benefits of GM crops.
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