By Deborah Nnamdi, Port Harcourt
A coalition of over 100 civil society actors, farmers, scientists, and academics representing 100 million Nigerian consumers has called on the government to discontinue plans to introduce genetically modified (GM) potatoes and ban GM crops altogether.
The demand was made in a press statement released in Port Harcourt, following the announcement of impending clinical trials on GM potatoes.
The call came on the heels of recent widespread Nigerians’ condemnation of the government’s deployment of GMOs, citing health and environmental risks, corporate control of the food system, and the fact that Nigeria doesn’t need GMOs to address food insecurity.
Executive Director of Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF), Nnimmo Bassey, condemned the move, stating that releasing GM crops would deliberately destroy Nigeria’s food system, jeopardise consumers’ health, and degrade the environment.
“The House of Representatives announced a halt on introducing new GMOs in May 2024 and mandated an investigation into GMOs and their approval processes. Four months later, there is no information on the findings or results of this investigation, yet the National Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA) is preparing to release new GM potatoes,” Bassey said.
“GM potatoes are banned in Peru and elsewhere and have been continuously spurned in developed countries. It’s puzzling that Nigerian farmers are being pushed to adopt this technology,” he added.
Dr. Ifeanyi Casmir, a molecular biologist noted that Nigerians are being misled by half-baked scientists toward adopting a technology whose products are mostly used as biofuels and animal feed in other countries, not for human consumption.
Food Sovereignty Activist and Deputy Director of Environmental Rights Action Mariann Bassey-Orovwuje emphasized regulatory lapses surrounding GM crops. “There’s no information on the application for field/clinical trials on GM potatoes on the NBMA website. The secrecy and urgency with which GMO applications and approvals are handled are cause for concern,” Bassey-Orovwuje said.
A farmer and founder of the Network of Women in Agriculture, Lovelyn Ejim, argued that Nigeria doesn’t need genetic modification to address late blight disease. “Simple organic methods have proven effective, including choosing resistant varieties, crop rotation, mixed cropping, proper crop nutrition, and quick removal of blighted plants. Nigerian farmers haven’t asked for GMOs,” Ejim said.
The coalition called on the House of Representatives to uphold its decision to suspend the introduction of new GMOs and ensure a thorough assessment of the long-term impact of GMOs in Nigeria. They advocated for investing in agroecology, a sustainable farming system that addresses major food system challenges while mitigating environmental impact.
