By Ugbogu Mercy/Okon Okon
Abuja – The National Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA) says it will ensure that unsafe Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) are not imported to the country.
The Director-General of the agency, Dr Rufus Ebegba, gave the assurance on Tuesday in Abuja, when members of the Association of Northern Nigerian Students and the National Youth Council of Nigeria paid him a courtesy call.
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“The agency will ensure that no genetically modified organism that is not safe will be allowed into the Nigerian environment.
“The National Biosafety Management Agency has the responsibility to ensure that the practice of modern biotechnology and the use of the products which are the genetically modified organisms are safe to the country.
“I wish to use your platform to urge you to inform your members, you need not worry about the fears being created in the minds of Nigerian about genetically modified organisms.
“Government cannot create an agency that will give wrong decisions or mislead Nigerians.
“It is high time we as Nigerians trusted the government and believe in our leaders.
“We may not have perfect leaders, but we have a change agenda of this administration.
“If we remain patriotic and support the government, government will in turn continue to belief in you as youths.
“We will continue to recognise the efforts of the youth.
“The strength of any country belongs to the youth and the future belongs to the youth; you must be youths that we can rely upon.“
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Speaking earlier while presenting the award of `Achiever Per Excellence` to Ebegba, Comrade Hamza Haruna, President of the Association of Northern Nigeria Students, described him as a man, who worked not for the government alone, but for humanity as well.
Haruna said,“We appreciate your good work for the country and to other human needs aside other national issues.“
Also speaking, Comrade Adedotun Omoleye, who represented the President of the youth council, Comrade Muritala Muhammed, expressed appreciation to the director-general for ensuring the monitoring of GMOs in the country.
Muhammed stated that the visit by the two associations was to identify with him and offer their support to him as one of the leaders that have shown keen interest in youth development.
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