Zaria (Kaduna) – The Director General, National Biosafety Management Agency ( NBMA ), Mr Rufus Ebegba, said Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) in agricultural produce has no negative effects to the environment and humans.
Ebegba made this known in Zaria, Kaduna on Monday during the inspection of GMOs sorghum and cowpea test sites in Zaria.
He said the agency had begun survey of GMOs for a holistic biosafety measures.
According to him, the essence of the inspection is to ensure that the genetically modified materials are proper and safe for consumption and the environment.
The DG said the inspection was also geared toward acquainting staff of the newly established agency on biosafety measures.
“The agency will ensure biosafety in all its ramifications.
“We will ensure the thorough check of any GMO crops before it is released for human consumption.
“I am satisfied with the biosafety measures at the sites, ” the DG said.
The Principal Instructor of the sorghum site, Prof. Mary Yeye, said that three varieties of sorghum from three ecological zones of the country were currently undergoing tests in site.
She listed the ecological zones to include Sudan Savannah, Guinea Savannah and Sahel Savannah.
Yeye said that the genetically modified sorghum had high content of vitamin A which was lacking in the conventional species.[pro_ad_display_adzone id=”10″]
According to her, 80 per cent of Nigerians consume sorghum and this modified one will help fight eye defects.
Also speaking, the Trial Manager of the Genetically Modified Cowpea Trial Site, Mr Muhammed Lawan, regretted that Nigeria was not currently meeting the demands on cowpea.
He said the biotechnology tests on cowpea would help the country meet its demand as there were no proven health implications for using or consuming biotechnology agricultural produce.
According to him, the cowpea test project commenced in 2009.
“Cowpea is one of the staple crops in Nigeria. Nigeria is the largest cowpea producer in the world but unfortunately, it is the largest consumer.
“All the cowpeas we produce are used in Nigeria so we had to make alternatives to meet the demand of other countries.
“There are many challenges to the production of cowpea due to pest infestation and diseases,” Lawan said.
The News Agency of Nigeria ( NAN ) reports that the test sites were being managed by the Institute for Agricultural Research of the Ahmadu Bello University ( ABU), Zaria. (NAN)