Professor Olugbenga Adeoluwa, a renowned soil fertility expert, has raised the alarm over a disturbing connection between the increasing cases of organ failure in Nigeria and impact of GMOs on human health in addition to harmful practices of some farmers.
The professor made this revelation during a one-day judicial training on Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) and biosafety, organized by the Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF) in Abuja on Monday.
Adeoluwa, a professor from the University of Ibadan, accused many farmers of prioritizing profit over public health by engaging in practices that contaminate food and endanger the health of consumers.
He shared that scientific research has conclusively linked the consumption of unhealthy food to a range of debilitating diseases, including cancer, organ failure, and hormonal imbalances.
The professor noted that Nigeria is facing a severe food crisis and is thus becoming a dumping ground for questionable food products.
“It is no gainsaying that the safety of GMOs—health-wise, environmentally, socially, and economically—is questionable.
“Nigeria should prioritize safe alternatives to GMOs to address food security and economic gains for the country,” he said.
While delivering a paper titled, “Assessing the Existing Legislation and Regulations of Biosafety in Nigeria: Where Are the Gaps? What Is the Way Forward?”, safe food advocate Mariann Bassey-Orovwuje expressed dismay over the lack of strict regulations to govern the use of GMOs.
“There is no mention of liability and redress in case of damage arising from the release of GMOs into the environment; no provision for coexistence; no clear and mandatory provisions on labeling; no strict liability clause; and no checks and balances,” she lamented.
Also speaking, one of the participants, Inibehe Effiong, noted that the training will educate judges on the legal framework surrounding GMOs.