- Reach us via:
- +2348082254683
- nbma@nbma.gov.ng
NBMA DG/CEO REAFFIRMS COMMITMENT TO BIOSAFETY STANDARDS
Director General/CEO of the National Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA), Dr Agnes Yemisi Asagbra has reinforced the agency’s commitment to rigorous biosafety standards for genetically modified (GM) seeds and grains importation.
This was a major discuss at a consultative meeting with GMO seed and grain importers which was held on Lagos on the 10th of June, 2024. Dr. Asagbra’s address to importers and dealers underscored the agency’s resolve to ensure that GM products entering the Nigerian market are safe and beneficial to the nation’s agriculture and economy. “The seeds and grains on our tables are more than commodities; they embody extensive research and a collective aspiration for a sustainable future,” she stated. The DG/CEO highlighted the NBMA’s critical role in driving progress while protecting public health and environmental integrity. She called for enhanced collaboration and shared expertise to maintain the agency’s dedication to science-driven policies. Importers were urged to fully understand and comply with the NBMA’s guidelines for importing GM seeds and grains, with Dr. Asagbra emphasizing the importance of transparency and adherence to safety protocols.
Dr. Matthew Dore, Country Coordinator for the Program for Biosafety Systems (PBS), lauded the consultative meeting’s role in advancing the country’s development agenda. He encouraged stakeholders to grasp the regulatory expectations and commit to the established biosafety standards. Mrs. Hauwa Tahir Ahmed, Acting Director of Biosafety Enforcement and Operations at NBMA, spoke on the regulatory system’s capacity to unlock a diverse array of economically and nationally significant crops through safe gene editing practices. She assured that the NBMA will continue to provide comprehensive biosafety regulatory information to importers and dealers, stressing the imperative of importing only approved GM products. Mrs. Ahmed also issued a reminder that the NBMA remains vigilant in enforcing compliance with biosafety standards concerning GMOs. The meeting saw participation from heads of key agencies collaborating with the NBMA, including the Nigerian Customs Service, Nigerian Agricultural Quarantine Service, NAFDAC, and representatives from the Brazilian and U.S. Embassies, among others.
