As Nigeria joined the global community to mark World Food Day 2024, activists across various sectors have renewed calls on the federal government to halt the adoption of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) in the country.
The activists argued that the use of GMOs undermines Nigerians’ right to safe, sustainable food, in line with the day’s theme of ensuring better lives and futures.
The call was made during an online event hosted by Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF), which highlighted the negative impacts of modern agricultural biotechnology on consumer rights, farmers, and the environment.
Public health expert and director of programmes at HOMEF, Joyce Brown, emphasized the relevance of the World Food Day theme and urged the federal government to reconsider its position on GMOs through a human rights perspective.
Brown pointed out that a significant portion of the Nigerian population opposes GMOs due to their environmental, economic, and health risks. She also criticized the government’s continued approval of permits for GMOs, calling it a violation of citizens’ rights.
Deputy director at Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria, Barrister Mariann Bassey-Orovwuje, echoed these concerns, highlighting that the current socio-economic system fails to support consumers’ rights to make informed choices about GMOs, as labeling is ineffective, making it nearly impossible to distinguish between genetically modified and organic foods.
Bassey-Orovwuje also addressed the impact on farmers, explaining how dependence on biotechnology seed companies erodes traditional practices of seed saving and sharing, as GM seeds lose productivity after the first generation.
Deputy director of the Centre for Food Safety and Agricultural Research, Dr. Segun Adebayo, criticized the GMO approval process in Nigeria. He highlighted flaws in the regulatory system, particularly with the National Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA), where transparency and risk assessments are inadequate, while urging an urgent review of the NBMA Act, citing concerns over the involvement of GMO promoters in the agency’s regulatory process.
Molecular biologist, Dr. Ifeanyi Casmir warned about the environmental damage caused by GMOs, noting that they increase the use of synthetic pesticides, leading to biodiversity loss and soil degradation. He also raised concerns about GM crops like Bt Cowpea and TELA Maize, which produce Cry proteins that disrupt soil organisms and contribute to antibiotic resistance.
In a push for sustainable alternatives, Lovelyn Ejim, a farmer and leader of a women’s farming group, advocated for Agroecology. She urged the Nigerian government to promote agricultural practices based on ecosystem principles, which could enhance food productivity while addressing social and economic barriers. Ejim stressed the need for greater support for smallholder farmers and the creation of markets for organic products to achieve food sovereignty in Nigeria.
