As Nigeria continues to debate on acceptance of genetically modified organisms GMOs, environmental rights activists and other concerned citizens in Benin city Edo State have insisted that GMOs are not the solution to hunger in Nigeria.
Keyplayers comprising agriculture lecturers and students, civil society members, agriculture workers, and environmentalists at a seminar in Benin city said genetically modified organisms ,GMOs pose significant health, environmental and economic risks that will not only promote food injustice but degradation of the earth.
According to a research carried out by Health of Mother Earth Foundation on food products of Genetically Modified organisms and glyphosate in 2023, Abuja topped the list of cities with genetically modified food with sixteen products followed by Lagos which has twelve products. Port Harcourt has eleven products while Benin City has nine.
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Predictions by Food and Agriculture Organisation FAO projects about thirty three point one million Nigerians to be food insecure in 2025 due to economic hardship, inflation and direct impact of rising cost of food which will push people towards reliance on genetically modified food.
But agriculturists however think that Nigeria is capable of feeding itself without resorting to genetically modified food, if only it can take actions towards restoration of culture of food and biodiversity by maximally utilizing arable land in communities and work towards strengthening security in parts of the country
The seminar concluded with a charge to the Nigerian government to protect the rights of people to safe food, a healthy environment and push towards food justice, sovereignty and environmental sustainability.
(Editor: Okechukwu Eze)
