Why GM is still a mystery in Nigeria #nigeria

A greater proportion of Nigerians is still in the dark about Genetic Modification (GM), a situation experts have said is due to the poor information flow from the scientists to the public. They are also concerned about the persistent inaction of the government towards creating a biosafety law, despite the fact that Nigeria in trade relations with countries where GM is entrenched. Biotechnologists and founder, Safe Food Foundation, Prof. Dele Fapohunda, who is a strong advocate of safe food, told Daily Independent that genetic research is still at the infant stage in Nigeria. He said, "Genetic Research in Nigeria has not been brought to a globally acceptable level, adding that, "anything you know nothing about becomes a mystery to you." It is in this regards that he said serious efforts should be made towards opening up the debate on a biosafety law for Nigeria. "Every effort should be made to open up enough boisterous debate on the Biosafety bill before it is passed," Fapohunda said. Speaking on the effect the lack of biosafety law has had on GM regulation in Nigeria, he said, "The lack of a biosafety law in Nigeria has created lack of awareness among all stakeholders including consumers. "Awareness will open it up to full scrutiny and informed contribution each time there is a controversy on the subject." According to him, GM at the research and consumption levels could only be regulated with it is backed by law. "Setting standards and ensuring compliance in order to guarantee long term safety for humans and animals should be explicitly stated in the legislation. Legislation may even recommend labelling GM Foods so that prospective consumers will have an informed choice," the biotechnologist noted. Meanwhile, he has said that GM could be handy in solving some of Nigeria's food crises. Speaking on this, Fapohunda said, "Genetic Modification entails the transfer of desirable characters from one strain to another. Usually the intention include high yield or increased food production, which translates to food security in terms of availability, affordability, resistance to disease and high nutritive value. Only last week, Nigeria, through the ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), with Nairobi, Kenya based African Agriculture Technology Foundation (AATF) on cooperation in a wide range of areas. On that occasion, Nigeria's Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina said Nigeria's meeting with AATF opens an avenue for collaborative efforts to jointly identify and facilitate the transfer of appropriate technologies that meet the needs of farmers, particularly in Nigeria, in ways that address and resolve the concerns of technology providers and users. Adesina said, "Amidst alarming predictions that hotter, drier weather caused by climate change could devastate African maize production, reports reaching us show that AATF is protecting maize against drought and insect damage through developing water-efficient maize for Africa. "For our semi-arid and resource-poor farming communities in Nigeria, AATF's maize varieties endowed with water-conserving and insect protection traits are capable of boosting harvests by 20 to 35 percent under moderate drought conditions". Although the minister noted that without technology, there can be no real progress in the efforts towards providing adequate food for the teeming Nigerian populace, he also spoke in line with Fapohunda, when he said, "We need, however, to assure Nigerians that AATF is not about to bring unregulated GMOs into Nigeria as the bill on biosafety is still pending at the national assembly."