The House of Representatives has asked the FG to suspend the circulation of GMO crops in Nigeria until investigations are made public by the Committee.
The House of Representatives on Thursday, May 16, urged the Federal Government (FG) to stop the introduction of new Genetically Modified Organism (GMO) Crops into Nigeria until an investigation by the Committee on Agricultural Production and Services is completed and the findings are made public.
The House also urged the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) to cause the already introduced GMO foods and crops in Nigeria to be properly labelled to safeguard consumers.
These resolutions followed a motion on the “Need to Investigate the Introduction of Genetically Modified Crops into Nigeria” by Rep. Muktar Tolani Shagaya (APC Kwara).
Shagaya noted that “GMO crops are plants used for agricultural purposes whose DNA has been altered using genetic engineering methods.”
Speaking further Rep. Shagaya, explained that the National Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA) has been accused of approving the introduction of GM crops into Nigeria without following due process and scientific protocols adding that the GMO crops are being introduced into Nigeria at a time when the said crops have been banned in several countries like France, Russia, Germany, China, India, and a host of other countries in Europe due to safety.
The lawmaker worried that the GMO crops’ long-term impact on human health remains uncertain, prompting precautionary measures due to potential health risks including cancer, antibiotic resistance, allergic reactions, and reproductive issues.
Further worried that the introduction of genetically modified crops could have far-reaching implications for Nigeria’s food security, potentially transferring control to foreign biotechnology companies which are primarily driven by profit and cost reduction.
Adopting the motion the House mandated the Committee on Agricultural Production and Services to conduct a comprehensive investigation into the introduction of genetically modified crops in Nigeria by the National Biosafety Management Agency.
The House also mandated the committee to assess the potential health and environmental risks associated with genetically modified crops and report back within four weeks.
