NBMA, Nigerian Customs, others to prevent illegal infiltration of genetically modified products into the country

The National Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA) has signed an agreement with the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS), Nigeria Agricultural Quarantine Service (NAQS), Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON) and the National Agricultural Seed Council (NASC) to prevent illegal import of Genetically Modified products into the country.

Director General of the National Biosafety Management Agency NBMA, Dr. Rufus Ebegba, on Thursday at the end of the year media chat in Abuja disclosed that the agency has entered into agreement with other international organisations in order to guarantee public and environmental safety against use of unsafe genetically modified organisms (GMOs).

Speaking Dr Ebegba, said the signing of the MOU with some agencies such as SON, NAQS, NASC, Customs is to ensure that the Nigeria boarders are well monitored in case of any unapproved GMO import.

Dr Ebegba said the partnerships by the agency became important especially with international bodies to ensure issues of Biosafety in the country are not left at the back seat while fulfilling its legal mandate as enshrined in the Act that sets up the agency.

Emphasizing the achievements of the agency since the inception within the country and Africa, Ebegba stressed that the knowledge, expertise and experience of the nation’s Biosafety regulators is being sort after worldwide.

Ebegba further revealed that the recent Biosafety permit granted to the Institute of Agricultural Research (IAR) on Cowpea has equally been approved by the National Variety Release Committee which is saddled with the responsibility of approving all new varieties.

He also said as part of efforts to boost capacity of the new staff, the agency has continued to train staff locally and internationally on various aspects of Biosafety so as to equip and prepare them for the huge task of protecting the country from unapproved GMOs.