Experts have cautioned that the rising prevalence of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) poses risks to human health, the economy, and the environment.
They argue the answer to the hunger crisis in Nigeria cannot be solved through GMOs, as 70% of the world’s food is produced by small-scale farmers rather than large industrial planters.
The experts suggest that the government should support small-scale farmers, enhance rural infrastructure, and establish robust systems for storing and processing local foods to ensure farmers earn a decent income.
These issues were raised at a programme titled “Human Rights, Food Justice and Sugar Sweetened Beverages (SSB),” organised by the Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA) in Lagos.
Nnimmo Bassey, Director of Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF), said access to safe and nutritious food is a basic human right, yet Nigerians are being unknowingly exposed to GMOs.
He noted that over 20 GMO varieties have been approved in Nigeria, with some already in circulation, and pointed out the lack of transparency in the approval process.
Akinbode Oluwafemi, CAPPA’s Executive Director, criticised the chemicalisation of foods, calling it a health disaster.
“When you throw open our food system to GMOs, you are affecting the local communities, public health communities, and as well the community livelihoods as a whole,” he said.
Dr. Francis Fagbule from University College Hospital (UCH) and University of Ibadan (UI) also condemned the secrecy surrounding GMOs, stressing that consumers need to make informed decisions about their food.
Recall that in May, the House of Representatives urged the Nigerian government to suspend the commercialisation of genetically modified (GMO) crops due to concerns about food and environmental safety.
This decision followed a motion by Muktar Shagaya (APC-Kwara) to investigate the introduction of GMO crops in Nigeria.
The House directed its Committee on Agricultural Production and Services to conduct a thorough investigation into the introduction of GMOs by the National Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA).
The committee was also asked to assess the potential health and environmental risks of GM crops and report back within four weeks.
Genetically modified crops have had their DNA altered using genetic engineering to introduce new traits not naturally found in the species. These traits can include resistance to pests, diseases, environmental conditions, and chemicals, or improvements in nutrient content.
The use of GM seeds has been a hotly debated topic among scientists, environmentalists, and food activists in Nigeria and worldwide over the past decade. Critics argue that commercialising GM seeds could have significant negative impacts on health, the environment, and food sovereignty in Nigeria and Africa.