By Sylvester Thompson
Rep. Saidu Abdullahi, Deputy Chairman, House Committee on Finance, says he is in support of the adoption of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) in the country.
Some Nigerians have expressed reservations over the safety of GMOs while scientists say they are safe and will boost the nation’s food security efforts.
Abdullahi’s stance came as the Open Forum on Agricultural Biotechnology (OFAB) Nigeria counts gains at the 2025 OFAB Media Awards.
He told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on the sidelines of the event that GMOs would boost agricultural yields which he said remained poor in the country.
While observing that the important thing in agriculture was to increase yield, Abdullahi urged Nigerians to embrace genetic engineering to mitigate risks associated with pest infestations.
Prof. Abdullahi Mustapha, Director-General of the National Biotechnology Research and Development Agency (NBRDA), said the progress recorded in breakthroughs in Nigeria’s GMO drives were not accidental.
He said the achievements rested on robust science, rigorous biosafety oversight, and critically informed consent of citizens.
According to him, Nigeria’s regulatory architecture anchored by the National Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA) and supported by research partners adopts a case-by-case approach to risk assessment, consistent with international best practice.
Prof. Garba Sharubutu, former Executive Secretary, Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria (ARCN), in a keynote on “The Media: A Factor in the Success and Failure of Agriculture in Nigeria’’ solicited media support for agriculture.
Sharubutu urged journalists to align with efforts of the government in driving national development, adding that patriotism should be their watchword.
He said the media should be an extension tool where farmers and Nigerians are educated on innovations in agriculture.
Sharubutu said that Nigeria is well equipped to research on the technology.
“When people are clamouring for reopening of the borders, and they rush to buy all kinds of food, nobody cares to ask whether what they are buying are GMOs or not,” he said.
Earlier, Dr Rose Gidado, Director, Agricbiotech Department, NBRDA, while speaking on “Counting the Gains: OFAB Nigeria’s Impact on Food Security and the Renewed Hope Agenda Initiative” said that OFAB was a force for good.
She said that since its inception, OFAB Nigeria stood as a beacon of science-based advocacy, bridging the gap between innovative laboratory discoveries and the lives of everyday farmers.
She also said that agricultural biotechnology promised resilient crops that defy drought, pests, nutrient deficiency, among other adversaries.
Dr Jean Baptiste Tignegre, Regional Representative, African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF), urged closer partnership among scientists, policymakers and the media.
“Together, we can accelerate the responsible adoption of agricultural technologies that uplift smallholder farmers and contribute to a more food secure continent,’’ he said.
The highpoint of the event was the presentation of National Agricultural Transformation Award to the Governor of Niger State, Mohammed Bago.
Among other winners of the media award which came in different categories, was Juliana Agbo of The Nation newspaper, who emerged the overall winner with 750,000 naira in prize money and a laptop. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Uche Anunne
