A coalition of over 100 civil society groups, farmers, scientists, and academics, representing the interests of 100 million Nigerian consumers, has called on the government to halt plans to introduce genetically modified (GM) potatoes and to ban GM crops entirely.
However, the demand was made in a press statement released in Port Harcourt, following the announcement of upcoming clinical trials on GM potatoes.
Nnimmo Bassey, Executive Director of Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF), strongly condemned the proposed release of GM potatoes, warning that it would threaten Nigeria’s food system, endanger consumer health, and harm the environment.
“The House of Representatives ordered a halt on new GMO introductions in May 2024, pending an investigation into their safety and approval processes. Four months later, there is still no report on the findings, yet the National Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA) is moving forward with plans for GM potatoes,” Bassey said.
He further argued that GM potatoes are a flawed technological solution that could lead to the irreversible contamination of Nigeria’s indigenous crop varieties.
“These potatoes are banned in Peru and other countries, and have faced widespread rejection in developed nations. It’s concerning that Nigerian farmers are being pressured into adopting this technology,” Bassey added.
Molecular biologist, Dr. Ifeanyi Casmir, echoed these concerns, stating that the introduction of GM potatoes is a threat to Nigeria’s crop diversity.
“We are being led by poorly informed scientists into adopting a technology that is mostly used for biofuels and animal feed in other countries, not for human consumption,” Casmir remarked.
Food sovereignty advocate and Deputy Director of Environmental Rights Action, Mariann Bassey-Orovwuje, highlighted the lack of transparency surrounding GM crop regulation in Nigeria.
“The application for field and clinical trials on GM potatoes is not even listed on the NBMA website. The secrecy and speed at which GMO applications and approvals are processed are deeply troubling,” she stated.
Joyce Brown, a public health scientist and Director of Programmes at HOMEF, also raised safety concerns, questioning the health implications of GM potatoes for Nigerian consumers.
The coalition insists that the government must prioritize the protection of Nigeria’s food sovereignty and the wellbeing of its citizens over the interests of biotechnology companies.