Experts, scientists, and farmers in Nigeria are again calling for a complete ban on genetically modified organisms (GMOs), citing concerns over their harmful effects on human health and the country’s food sovereignty.
This call was made during a press briefing in Abuja by the Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF) and its allies after presenting at a public hearing organized by the House of Representatives Committee on Agricultural Production and the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security.
Joyce Brown, the Director of Programmes at HOMEF, criticized GMOs for involving the unnatural transfer of genes across species, which she argued leads to the creation of potentially destructive organisms. She questioned the naturalness of GMOs, pointing out that if they were truly natural, there would be no need for patents or ownership rights over them.
Brown emphasized that Nigeria does not need GMOs to address food insecurity but should focus on addressing underlying issues like poverty and lack of support for small-scale farmers.
Agronomist Professor Johnson Ekpere agreed with the need for a GMO ban, warning that Nigeria is not yet equipped to manage the biotechnology required for their safe use.
He called for the establishment of a biosecurity research facility to help understand the risks of GMOs.
He also mentioned that local research institutions already have valuable information that could improve food production without relying on GMOs.
Rutendo Matinyarare, a Zimbabwean anti-GMO activist, highlighted the environmental damage caused by GMOs in South Africa, including soil degradation and dependence on harmful chemicals.
She warned that GMO seeds do not reproduce themselves, forcing farmers to buy new seeds every year, which further increases dependency on chemicals and damages soil health.
Local farmers like Lovelyn Ejims also raised concerns, stating that GMOs damage soil, kill local species, and are too expensive for small-scale farmers. She advocated for government intervention in supporting farmers, providing education, and offering land for sustainable farming practices rather than promoting GMOs.
The coalition of experts and farmers further urged the government to ensure better consumer protection against unlabelled GMO products and to use biotechnology research to benefit the nation rather than private interests.
This call reflects growing concerns among experts and local communities about the adoption of GMOs in Nigeria and calls for a more sustainable and locally focused agricultural approach.
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