As Nigeria expands the adoption of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs), concerns are growing over what that could mean for farmers, food sovereignty, and environmental sustainability.
Environmental and Food Rights advocates at the National Conference on Biosafety and Agroecology held in Abuja argue that decisions on biosafety go far beyond science to affect public health, livelihoods, biodiversity, and the future of Nigeria’s food production systems.
Nigeria’s rich biodiversity and diverse agroecological zones form the foundation of its food system, yet the country has, in recent years, doubled up on the adoption of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs), as seen with the approval and commercial release of varieties such as the BT Cowpea and TELA maize of 2024.
Environmental and food rights advocates at a conference on Biosafety and Agroecology held in Abuja are however worried that these approvals were granted without sufficient public consultation, independent long-term risk assessments, or effective post-release monitoring.
They say the incident raises troubling questions about regulatory compliance and oversight in the country’s biosafety framework.
“One of the latest concerns stems from the registration of four transgenic cotton hybrid varieties in March 2026. The National Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA), alleged that the varieties were registered without its prior approval as required by law”, Executive Director, Health of Mother Earth Foundation, Nnimmo Bassey added.
Agriculture researcher and rural development consultant, Professor Johnson Ekpere, in his keynote address, stressed that Nigeria’s food security challenges can be addressed through agroecological farming systems that protect biodiversity, empower local farmers, ensure food safety, and safeguard the environment.
In May 2024, the Nigerian House of Representatives recommended a suspension of GMO approvals and launched an investigation into the approval process.
Two years later, stakeholders say there has been little public information on the outcome of those proceedings.
For many participants at the conference, food is more than a commodity. It is deeply connected to culture, identity, and national sovereignty.
(Editor: Ken Eseni)
