To address potential risks and strengthen transparency in the introduction of genetically modified (GM) crops, the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare has announced measures to ensure that all GM products comply with established regulatory standards, including labelling and traceability, as part of efforts to build public trust and accountability.
The Director of Food and Drug Services, Mr. John Atanda, disclosed this in Abuja during a sensitisation workshop on GMOs for Directorate Officers, organised by the Open Forum on Agricultural Biotechnology (OFAB).
According to him, the Directorate will collaborate with other relevant agencies, such as the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and the National Biotechnology Management Agency (NBMA), to guarantee accurate labelling of GM products. He further stressed that the Ministry remains committed to safeguarding public health by ensuring that all foods are safe, nutritious, and wholesome. Atanda assured that products developed through modern biotechnology would be subjected to rigorous safety evaluations, including checks for allergenicity, nutritional value, potential long-term health effects, and environmental impact.
In her presentation on the science of agricultural biotechnology, the Nigeria Country Director of OFAB, Dr. Rose Gidado, highlighted that GMOs have been safely used worldwide for more than 30 years in about 45 countries.
She remarked: “The government cannot deliberately expose its people to harm. If claims that planting GMOs destroys surrounding crops were true, Nigeria would already have faced severe food shortages.”
Gidado further explained that GM crops are products of evidence-based scientific research and warned that without investing in research and development, Nigeria risks continued reliance on imports.
The Director-General of the National Biotechnology Development and Research Agency (NABDA), Prof. Abdullahi Mustapha, disclosed that farmers experienced up to a 50 percent boost in yields after cultivating genetically modified (GM) maize, commonly referred to as TELLA Maize.
He further noted that field trials and economic assessments of cowpeas demonstrated impressive benefits for farmers growing the pod borer–resistant variety. According to him, the significant reduction in the need for insecticide sprays has not only improved yields but also delivered strong returns on investment.
