- Reach us via:
- +2348082254683
- nbma@nbma.gov.ng
NIGERIA AT 60
NIGERIA AT 60; THE DIRECTOR GENERAL, NBMA CALLS FOR MORE EFFORTS IN SAFE APPLICATION OF MODERN BIOTECHNOLOGY
As the country marks its sixty years of independence, the Director-General/Chief Executive Officer of the National Biosafety Management (NBMA) Dr. Rufus Ebegba has called for concerted effort in the bid to ensuring safety in the application of modern biotechnology, emerging modern biotechnology, and the use of their products GMO as well as in ensuring Biosecurity in Nigeria.
The DG who said this in a goodwill message to Nigerians on the occasion of the country’s diamond jubilee celebration stated that the safe deployment of modern Biotechnology products will ensure food security in the country, raise our revenue, create employment opportunities and help in the diversification of the economy.
Dr. Ebegba said sixty years after independence, the country has done well in the areas of food production and the development of science and technology. However, more still needs to be done as the country is still lagging behind in the area of technological advancement and food production expected to contribute greatly to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.
Nigeria is a blessed country with abundant natural resources but we need to do more in harnessing these recourses sustainably for the development of the country. The establishment of the National Management Agency in 2015 whose mandate is to ensure an adequate level of protection in the field of safe transfer, handling and use of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) resulting from modern biotechnology that may have adverse effects on the conservation and sustainable use of Biodiversity taking into account risks to human health, animals, plants and the environment has laid down the foundation for a boost in agriculture.
We need to build on this foundation by not allowing detractors to hijack the process for their selfish gains and allowing Nigeria to become a dumping ground for unapproved GM products.
“There are so many global challenges which also affect Nigeria and addressing these challenges require the adoption of out of the box workable measures such as safe technologies that will foster green economy and eliminate the factors that contribute to climate change, ensure conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity, as well as provide food security for the enhancement of the well-being of the citizens which should be of national priority”.
Dr. Ebegba said with the establishment of the NBMA and with the amendment of its Act in 2019 to cover Biosecurity, gene drive, gene editing, and synthetic Biology, the country is on the right track in its bid to ensure that Nigerians are protected from harmful Biological agents and uncertified GMOs.
“The NBMA is poised to ensure that Nigeria becomes self-reliant in the development and application of modern biotechnology-based services, we also want to ensure that Nigerians have access to and benefit from safe, ethical, and profitable uses of Biotechnology based products and services, and to ensure that modern biotechnology is profitably and safely applied to government’s programs and projections such as assurance of high-quality health services, food security, environmental protection, and safety.
He said the NBMA is currently developing regulations and guidelines on gene editing and Biosecurity, noting that these are all in the bid to ensure that the country practices safe technologies that will put us at par with our counterparts in the global world.
We can only achieve this when Nigerians learn to trust the NBMA and indeed the federal government and to believe that what so ever the Agency has declared safe is indeed safe for human health and the environment.
He felicitated with the President and Nigerians on the marking of the diamond jubilee and called for patience and unity in building the nation for everyone and our future generations.
We do not have any other country so let us join hands to together to build Nigeria, yes we may have our shortcomings as a people but we must not lose hope or lose confidence in the system as it is the confidence the masses bestow on the systems that spur us to do more.
I wish every Nigerian a happy independent day celebration and long life the federal republic of Nigeria.
Gloria Ogbaki
Head press and protocol unit
National Biosafety Management Agency
