*Agnes Asagbra, Director-General of the National Biosafety Management Agency, restates the Nigerian Government’s commitment to regulating modern biotechnology by ensuring the safety of the Nigerian populace, the animals, the plant and the environment

Isola Moses | 绿帽献妻

The National Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA) has assured Nigerians that the Federal Government is closely monitoring and regulating biotechnology to keep consumers of goods and products safe in the economy.

绿帽献妻 reports Agnes Asagbra, Director-General of NBMA, who stated this while featuring in a Channels TV programme aired Monday, July 28, 2025, and monitored in Lagos, noted that the government is working to ensure that Genetically-Modified (GM) foods are safe for Nigerian consumers.

It was gathered that some Nigerians recently raised concerns about the safety of Genetically Modified foods in the country.

Affirming the proactive measure of the authorities in this regard, Asagbra said: 鈥淭he government realises the importance of having modern biotechnology regulated, and our mandate is to regulate modern biotechnology, thereby ensuring the safety of the Nigerian populace, the animals, the plant and the environment, and therefore, this is of the essence.”

According to her, there is a need to properly regulate the use of biotechnology to protect the health of people, the environment, and Nigeria鈥檚 biodiversity.

On safeguarding consumers鈥� health, and environment

Explaining the role of the agency over the years, Asagbra, Director-General of NABDA also said: 鈥淥ver the years, we have been able to make sure that any GMO (Genetically Modified Organisms) that has been approved in Nigeria has undergone rigorous scientific analysis.

鈥淭hese are all under the international standard. We have the Cartagena Protocol under the Convention of Biodiversity, and we also have to use the Codex Alimentarius of the WHO (World Health Organisation) standard.

鈥淎ll these are regulations; all these are standards that have to be made before a GMO can be approved.鈥�

The NABDA Chief equally said part of her agency鈥檚 mandate is to go to the supermarkets to make sure that any Genetically Modified products that come into the country are labelled.

She further disclosed that NABDA is working with the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) on the appropriate labelling of products by manufacturers.