Biosafety Agency conducts analysis of suspected GMO products — D-G


The National Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA) is currently conducting analysis of suspected Genetically Modified (GM) products, to ensure the safety of Nigerians, says the Director-General, Dr Rufus Ebegba.

Ebegba told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday that the agency’s scientists had selected products suspected to contain genetically modified ingredients from some superstores in the country.

“The analysis followed a three-month GMO survey conducted by the agency which, among other findings, showed the presence of products containing genetically modified ingredients in superstores across the country.

“Some of the products have labels showing ingredients contained therein while others do not.

“Hence, the need to carry out an indepth analysis to ascertain the true type of genetic materials and their make-up, and to ensure that it is safe for Nigerians to consume,’’ the director-general said.

In a separate interview, Miss Amedu Josephine, Head of the GMO Analysis Laboratory said: “We do have some foods on our shelves that are GM Foods.

“Our work is to ensure that it is actually GMO and find out the genetic component that describes the GM material.

“We also have to be sure that the sequence that has been inserted is not one that will be detrimental to the health of Nigerians.

“This is why we want to be sure that everything that is genetically modified within the borders of Nigeria is safe for public consumption.”

According to Amedu, the agency has been diligent in the discharge of its duties.

“I urge Nigerians to have faith in the ability of the agency’s scientists to protect and safeguard their health,” she said.


NAN reports that the agency acquired a state-of-the-art GMO analysis laboratory in 2016 as part of its resolve to diligently carry out testing of products.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Tomato disease outbreak: Institute appeals for research funding

The National Horticultural Research Institute, Ibadan, has appealed for funding to carry out research and create awareness on the tuta absoluta pest on tomatoes. The Institute’s Head of Vegetable Programme, Dr Olagorite Adetula, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ibadan on Friday that there was an urgent need to tackle the problem to save the economy. Adetula said the institute needed money to do surveillance survey of the pest/damage, ascertain the impact of the damage and proffer solution for eradicating the pest. She appealed to the Federal Government to help the institute get pheromones to lure and trap the pests and distribute to farmers. ``Spraying insecticides is not the best, the pest has high production rate, some of them can escape while spraying it and they will be resistant to the insecticide thereby causing us more cost. ``The pheromones can be used for six to eight weeks before changing it, it is very effective, the pest has short life cycle, wit...
Read more

10,000 women farmers to be engaged in ECOWAS rice project – official

Image
 Mr Richard Olafare, the President, Seed Entrepreneurs Association of Nigeria (SEEDAN) says 10,000 women will be engaged in the recently inaugurated Rice Seed Up-Scaling Project. This is contained in a presentation on the project made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Friday. Olafare said 8,000 youths would also be engaged in the scaling project. According to him, the number of women and youths represented 50 per cent and 40 per cent respectively of the 20,000 farmers that will participate in the project. NAN reports that the project is an initiative of the West Africa Seed Programme (WASP) in support of the ECOWAS Rice Offensive Programme that was inaugurated in 2014. Among other objectives, it is targeting the production of 60,000 metric tonnes of paddy rice for Nigeria by December 2017, using 1,200 certified seeds. The project is being implemented by SEEDAN in collaboration with the West and Central Africa Council for Agricultura...
Read more

Monsanto Nigeria Launches 3 Conventional Maize Hybrids

Maize farmers across Nigeria now have 3 high yielding conventional maize hybrids to choose from the DEKALB ® brand as Monsanto Agriculture Nigeria Limited launches 3 conventional maize hybrids. The launch held in Abuja on Tuesday May 17 2016 had in attendance farmers, development partners, government regulatory bodies and other stakeholders from both the private and public sectors of the economy. The launch of these hybrid seeds follows their registration by the National Committee on Naming, Registration and Release of Crop Varieties, Livestock Breeds and Fisheries in February 2016. The white maize hybrid, DK234 alongside the 2 yellow maize hybrids, DK920 and DK818 obtained registration approval for use in Nigeria after testing across various agro ecological zones on multi-location farms. The white maize hybrid DK234 with yield potential of 13 tonnes per hectare is well adapted for the Southern and Northern Guinea Savanna ecologies and shows tolerance to Maize Streak Virus, ...
Read more