By EricJames Ochigbo
The House of Representatives has urged the Federal Government to suspend introduction of new Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO) crops in the country.
The resolution was sequel to an adoption of a motion by Rep. Muktar Shagaya (APC-Kwara) at plenary on Thursday.
The house recommend that all GMO introduction should be suspended pending the completion of a comprehensive investigation by the House Committee on Agricultural Production and Services and the findings made public.
Moving the motion, Shagaya explained that genetically modified crops, commonly referred to as GM Crops, are plants used for agricultural purposes whose DNA has been altered using genetic engineering methods.
He said that the recent introduction of genetically modified crops in Nigeria has raised serious questions mostly about safety.
The lawmaker said that concerns have also been raised on regulatory oversight and the potential impact on the country’s biosafety and ecosystem following the introduction of GMO.
“Aware that genetically modified foods can be created to contain almost anything, including genes which have higher level of toxicity and negative long-term effects on human health.
“Introducing these crops has led to public outcries, with serious concerns expressed about the potential risks these GM crops may pose to human health, environmental degradation, and food security.
“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.
“Concerned that these GM 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 concerns,” he said.
The lawmaker said that the introduction of genetically modified crops could have far-reaching implications for Nigeria’s food security.
According to him, it could be potentially transfer control to foreign biotechnology companies which are primarily driven by profit and cost reduction.
He said that 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.
Shagaya said that there is a need to prioritise public health, biodiversity, and traditional farming practices due to uncertainties surrounding the long-term impact of GMOs on health, environment, and food security.
The green chambers urge the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) to cause the already introduced GM foods and crops in Nigeria to be properly labeled to safeguard consumers.
In his ruling, the Deputy Speaker, Rep. Benjamin Kalu mandated the Committee on Agricultural Production and Services to conduct a comprehensive investigation into the introduction of GMOs by NBMA.
The deputy speaker mandated the committee to assess the potential health and environmental risks associated with genetically modified crops and report back within four weeks and mandated the Committee on Legislative Compliance to ensure compliance.
It could be recalled that food experts had earlier called for the prohibition of the consumption and promotion of GMOs in the country.
The experts urged the National Assembly to amend the NBMA Act to prohibit the use, consumption and promotion of GMOs in the country.
Prof. Qrisstuberg Amua, Director-General, Centre for Food Safety and Agricultural Research, said that to eliminate GMO in the country was “a matter of national security. “
Dr Ifeanyi Casmir, a Medical Microbiologist and Public Health Consultant, said that there were many studies that suggested that GMOs could cause cancer.
According to him, we do not know enough about the impact of GMOs on the people and plans for us to be very categorical about its safety.
He said: “The risk factor is not zero and Nigeria does not have a testing protocol that is able to evaluate the impact of human consumption of GMOs as available claims of its safety are being sponsored by its manufacturers.
Also, the Executive Director, HOMEF, Dr Nnimmo Bassey, said that Nigeria, like many other African nations, stood at a crossroads to her food future.
“The stark choice is between adopting agricultural biotechnology in line with the industrial agriculture model or agroecology,” he said.
According to Bassey, biotechnology, in the guise of enhancing agricultural productivity and fostering economic development, locks in monocultures, loss of biodiversity, seed monopoly and seed/food colonialism.
“Agroecology delivers increased productivity and economic resilience and also nourishes and revives ecosystems, strengthens local economies, mitigates climate/environmental crises and promotes food sovereignty.