By Israel Bulus, Kaduna
The National Biosafety Management Agency has stepped up regulatory oversight on modern biotechnology in Nigeria, conducting surveillance operations, certifying institutions, and training over a thousand individuals to strengthen biosafety practices across the country.
The Director-General of NBMA, Dr. Agnes Yemisi Asagbra, disclosed that the agency, under the Federal Ministry of Environment, is committed to ensuring that biotechnology applications do not pose risks to human health, animals, plants, or the environment.
According to the agency, a total of 32 surveillance exercises have been carried out across supermarkets nationwide to monitor the presence and labeling of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in food products.
In the agricultural sector, the NBMA confirmed seven confined field trials (CFTs) for GMO crops, which are designed to assess their safety and performance before full-scale deployment.
To boost research integrity, the agency accredited key institutions for GMO experimentation. These include the Nigerian Institute of Horticultural Research, INQABA Biotech West Africa, and the Faculty of Biological Sciences at the University of Calabar.
Additionally, nine facilities have been certified for Food, Feed, and Processing (FFP) activities involving GMOs, ensuring compliance with national safety standards.
In its effort to build capacity, the agency said it trained 1,470 individuals in 2024 on GMO detection and analysis. The training aims to enhance national capacity in biosafety monitoring and enforcement.
The NBMA has also partnered with INTERPOL and the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) to strengthen biosecurity frameworks, addressing potential threats associated with emerging biological technologies.
Dr. Asagbra reiterated the agency’s resolve to “promote the safe use of modern biotechnology for national development, without compromising health or environmental safety.”
