Abuja – The Director General, National Biosafey Management Agency (NBMA), Mr Rufus Ebegba, has described biotechnology as a veritable tool for economic growth.
This is contained in a statement issued by NBMA’s Head of Press, Mrs Efe Ovuakporie, in Abuja on Thursday.
The statement said Ebegba gave the remark when he inaugurated a six-man technical committee to review application dossier for release of Genetically Modified Cotton on farm trial and maize for confined field trial.
Ebegba said with biotechnology the nation’s population could be fed while the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) could be attained.
He also said that with the technology, employment would be created in line with the goals of the Federal Government.
“With biotechnology we can grow our economy beyond mere sustenance to existential strategy to the point of becoming a global major player in food importation,’’ he said.
Ebegba said it became imperative to set up the committee in order to ensure the safety of products both to human health, animal health and the environment.
The director-general said that when correctly used, the modern technology had the potential to reduce pest problems with economic and environmental benefits.
“Though the best technology is used in the production of Genetically Modified Organisms but this can only be done within the confines of the law to ensure that the GMOs have no adverse effects,’’ he said.
He charged the committee to be thorough and diligent in the consideration of the applications and take decisions that would promote the wellbeing of the country.
He noted that the agency had the responsibility to create and monitor the biosafety standards that must be met to prevent any accidental release of potentially harmful biological materials.
Ebegba said as regulators, the NBMA would not compromise standards as its role was not to promote GMOs but safety of genetically modified organisms.[pro_ad_display_adzone id=”70560″]
“I will only defend what I know is safe, I will only sing the song of safety,’’ he added.
In his remarks, Mr Samuel Timpo, representative of the African Biosafety Network of Experts (ABNE) an affiliate of NEPAD, commended the Federal Government for the holistic approach adopted to ensure safety in the use of modern technology.
Timpo also lauded the initiative to involve other national experts with diverse expertise in the process.
According to him, as giant of Africa, once Nigeria gets it right, it will change the face of Africa in the area of GMOs.
Timpo charged the committee to borrow copiously from established global best practices in the consideration of the applications.
Members of the committee were drawn from the academia, Federal Ministries and Agencies.
The committee has two applications before it from Monsanto Agricultural Nigeria Ltd., for the environmental release and commercial placement of Bt Cotton into Zaria and its environs.
The confined field trail of genetically modified maize will be released into multiple locations in across the country. (NAN)
