NBMA seeks collaboration with Interpol on GMOs

The National Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA) is seeking collaboration with Interpol as part of efforts to ensure the safe application of modern biotechnology and the use of its products which includes Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOS).

The Director General of the agency, Dr Rufus Ebegba, said this when he led the management team on a courtesy visit to the office of the commissioner of police and head of Interpol National Centre Bureau (NCB) who is also the head of the Interpol committee delegate representing Africa, Olushola Subair.

The DG said the essence of the collaboration was to synergise with the Interpol and to make sure that the agency was promptly alerted whenever GM seeds or grains came into the country without biosafety permit and to also ascertain the country of origin and those involved.

Dr Ebegba noted that the agency has signed a memorandum of understanding with other sister agencies in the bid to ensure that its mandate is achieved.

Responding, Subair said Interpol was ready and very willing to partner the agency to ensure that the mandate of the NBMA is achieved, noting that there are very key areas Interpol can collaborate with it.

He said Interpol will collaborate with the agency in terms of training of staff and providing protective kits and equipment for staff of the NBMA among others.

In another development, a team from the United States Department of Agriculture, Lagos, also visited the agency on a fact finding mission, during which it pledged readiness to collaborate with the agency in achieving its mandate.

The team leader, Jude Akhidemor, expressed optimism in spite of the challenges the practice of modern biotechnology faced and assured on the department’s preparedness to work with the agency.