NBMA Sensitizes Farmers on Safety, Benefits of GMO Seeds

Minna – The National Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA) has stepped up efforts to educate farmers and key stakeholders on the safety and advantages of Genetically Modified Organism (GMO) seeds, highlighting their potential to boost agricultural productivity and strengthen food security.

Bello Bawa, Director-General of NBMA, disclosed this during an engagement with farmers and traditional rulers in Minna on Saturday. Represented by Hauwa Ahmed, Acting Director of Biosafety Operations and Enforcement, he said the agency is mandated to regulate modern biotechnology activities in Nigeria and ensure the safe deployment of its products.

Bawa noted that many farmers remain unaware of the benefits of modern biotechnology, adding that misinformation, particularly from social media, has contributed to skepticism about GMO seeds.

“Contrary to claims that GMOs are harmful, scientific evidence demonstrates that they are safe for human and livestock consumption, and beneficial to the environment when properly regulated,” he said. The NBMA chief also dismissed fears that GMO seeds could displace conventional varieties or render farmlands unusable.

He emphasized that any GMO product approved by NBMA undergoes rigorous scientific assessment before commercial release. “The approval process takes a minimum of 13 years, from laboratory research to confined field trials, multi-location testing, and eventual commercialisation,” Bawa explained. He added that the agency inspects laboratories and facilities firsthand, ensuring compliance with global best practices rather than granting approvals from offices alone.

Bawa further stated that GMO seeds on the market are substantially equivalent to conventional varieties in allergenicity, toxicity, and protein content. Some biotech crops are even bio-fortified to enhance nutritional value, helping combat malnutrition and improve food security.

Assuring Nigerians of the agency’s commitment to public safety, Bawa noted that regulators and their families consume food from the same markets as the public.

In their remarks, Mohammed Auna, Commissioner for Tertiary Education, commended NBMA for enlightening farmers on GMO issues, describing biotechnology as “an innovation that has come to stay.”

Isah Sidi-Rijau, Commissioner for Agriculture, represented by Maikasuwa Garba, Director of Agricultural Services and Linkages, said the ministry is promoting biotechnology adoption to boost agricultural productivity. He added that the state government supports the production of bio-fortified crops to increase yields, enhance nutrition, and reduce malnutrition.