Biosafety: US pledges support for Nigeria’s food safety

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has reiterated its support for agricultural biosafety in Nigeria to boost food safety for the populace.

Counselor for Agricultural Affairs, Christopher Bielecki, said there was no hidden agenda for its support to agricultural biotechnology and biosafety in Nigeria.

Bielecki spoke in Lagos during a one-day agricultural biosafety and biotechnology communication workshop titled, “Strategic Communication Training for Influences and Reporters on Biosafety and Biotech Regulations”, organised by the National Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA). The workshop was supported by USDA to enhance the NMBA’s drive to expose participants to the science behind agricultural biotechnology and the regulatory framework.

He commended Nigeria for its efforts at promoting food safety through application of modern biotechnologies, saying, “Nigeria is doing wonderfully well, I will say internationally and the continent of Africa in developing products derived from modern biotechnology.

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“Supporting this workshop is just our only way of upholding the standards of excellence.”

The Director General/CEO of NMBA, Dr Yemisi Asagbra, emphasised the commitment of the agency to continue to discharge its responsibility of providing regulatory frameworks, institutional and administrative mechanisms for safety measures in the application of modern biotechnology, its use and handling of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) in Nigeria.

She said that the importance of biosafety in the application of modern biotechnology could not be overstated.

The acting Director, Biosafety Enforcement and Operations, Hauwa Tahir Ahmed, urged Nigerians to put their trust in the agency to approve products that were safe and fit for both human and animal consumption.

She disclosed that crops or seeds that were imported followed strict procedures and rigorous reviews by experts to ensure they met the recommended specifications.

She said, “We want to assure you and the Nigerians that NBMA is an unbiased umpire. All the information that is sent out to the public or all the decisions that have been taken so far are based on scientific findings, not based on individuals or organisations.”