File photo : DG-NAFDAC, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye
By Deborah Nnamdi
The Director General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Professor Mojisola Adeyeye, has stated that genetically modified foods (GMOs) are not inherently harmful to human health, provided they meet established safety and regulatory standards.
Speaking during an interview on Channels Television on Thursday, Prof. Adeyeye addressed rising public concerns over the consumption and regulation of GMO products in Nigeria.
“GMOs, when it comes to food, are not bad for us,” she said. “It depends on the type of food and whether appropriate safety measures have been taken.”
She clarified that the National Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA) is primarily responsible for evaluating the safety of GMO products. NAFDAC, she explained, works in close partnership with NBMA to ensure food quality and compliance.
“We work collaboratively with the Biosafety Management Agency. We have a Memorandum of Understanding with them. They are mandated to confirm the quality, safety, and efficacy of GMO foods. Without their certification—whether from laboratory testing or desk reviews—we cannot grant approval,” Adeyeye explained.
Describing herself as a “food freak,” she urged Nigerians to pay attention to food labeling, particularly when it comes to GMO indicators. She reassured the public that all GMO foods approved for the Nigerian market have passed rigorous safety evaluations.
“For NAFDAC, our priority is to ensure that all approved foods are safe, of high quality, and effective,” she said.
Her remarks come amid ongoing national debate over the safety, regulation, and labeling of GMO products in Nigeria, with advocates demanding greater transparency and critics expressing health-related concerns.
