Centre Calls for Strict Legislation Against GMO Products in Nigeria

By Fatima Ndagi

The Centre for Food Safety and Agricultural Research has called on the National Assembly to urgently pass legislation banning the consumption and use of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) in Nigeria, citing serious health and environmental risks.

The call was made by the Centre’s Executive Director, Qrisstuberg Amua, during a one-day intensive training session on the dangers of GMO consumption. The workshop, held at the National Assembly Complex in Abuja, was organized specifically for members of the House of Representatives Press Corps.

It will be recalled that in May 2024, Rep. Tolani Shagaya (APC, Kwara) moved a motion urging the Federal Government to halt the introduction of GMO crops into the country, pending the outcome of investigations by the House Committee on Agricultural Production Services. Although a public hearing has been conducted, the committee’s report is yet to be presented on the floor of the House.

In its presentation, the Centre alleged a direct link between the rising incidence of cancer and other chronic illnesses in Nigeria and the increased consumption of GMO foods.

“Our scientific research conducted across several countries confirms that GMOs—products of genetic engineering—are created by altering genes at the cellular level in a way that is unnatural and impossible through traditional breeding,” Amua said.

The Centre warned that many countries have grappled with the negative impacts of GMOs, prompting further research that has led some to conclude these products are harmful to human health. It cited countries such as South Africa, Russia, Zambia, Peru, and Mexico where certain GMO products have been banned.

According to the organization, the genetic modification of crops, animals, and other organisms threatens to disrupt ecological balance, undermine local agriculture, and compromise Nigeria’s food security. It added that over 19 European Union countries, four Asian nations, two African countries, five in the Americas, and even South Africa’s Supreme Court have all taken steps to ban GMO products.

The Centre also criticized the credibility of studies that declare GMOs safe. “It is noteworthy that nearly all studies claiming GMOs are safe are funded by biotechnology corporations that manufacture or profit from these products,” it stated.

On health concerns, the group cited antibiotic resistance. “For instance, the commercially approved Bt Cowpea expresses an enzyme—neomycin phosphotransferase II (NPTII)—which confers antibiotic resistance,” it warned.

Critics of GMOs have also pointed to increased herbicide use. “In the U.S., herbicide application has risen sharply due to GMO adoption, with the same companies producing both the seeds and the chemicals. These herbicides do not only destroy weeds but also harm beneficial organisms crucial for soil health and environmental balance. They can also contaminate ground and surface water, including sources of drinking water,” the Centre said.

Further concerns were raised about irreversible genetic contamination through cross-pollination, which could give rise to uncontrollable or mutated plant species.

The Centre also highlighted the challenges farmers face with GMO seeds. While initial yields may be high, productivity reportedly declines in subsequent seasons. Additionally, GMO seeds are often engineered to be non-reusable, forcing farmers to repurchase them each year.

“This represents a form of seed colonialism and a loss of our agricultural heritage. Forcing farmers—and by extension, consumers—to depend on foreign corporations for seeds is akin to committing genocide,” Amua declared.

He urged the government and citizens to invest in regenerative farming methods such as cover cropping and crop rotation, which he said offer better income opportunities and long-term sustainability for farmers.

Also speaking at the workshop, the Centre’s Deputy Director, Segun Adabayo, explained that the training aimed to equip journalists with vital knowledge about GMO-related health and environmental risks. He noted that the session also sought to build media capacity to report effectively on GMO policies and to foster informed public discourse on food safety and national food sovereignty.