AN environment expert, Mr. Rufus Ebegba has raised alarm over the
influx of Genetically Modified foods into the country through porous
borders, as there was no law to safeguard the lives of the people.
Ebegba
raised the alarm while speaking to newsmen at a one day workshop with
theme, ‘Stopping the False Nutritional Kite & Understanding the
Convention on Biological Diversity’, which was organised by Health Of
Mothers Earth Foundation, HOMEF, for small scale farmers.
Ebegba
said the country has become a dumping ground for genetically modified
foods and organisms if there was no law regulating inflow of these
products the country will end up to be a dumping ground as it is to
other imported products.
Ebegaba said: “Thus Nigeria as a country,
is meant to have a foreign policy,the danger is that if there is no
law, Nigeria will consume any product that comes into the country,
because Nigeria presently, imports agricultural products from countries
that manufacture genetic modified foods, like Mexico, India and other
countries.
“If Nigeria does not have a law, it means what we are
consuming genetic modified organisms, and we cannot ascertain it. The
golden rice sold and consumed by Nigerians is genetically modified. And I
have said in my presentation that in a place where there is no law,
offence is not committed.
“Nigeria will end becoming a consuming
nation of genetically modified organisms or a dumping ground of
genetically modified organisms.”
He urged President Goodluck
Jonathan to assent to the National Bio-safety Management Bill is for an
Act, to that ensure Genetically Modified Organisms, GMOs, which were
products of modern biotechnology were safe for human consumption. The
bill has sections for penalties for any offender who had refused to
follow a particular laid down terms and conditions.
“The bill
serves as a safety valve in the adoption of the modern biotechnology in
the use of the product. If the bill is on ground with regulations in
place, Nigeria can use the technology to enhance the economy, generate
employment, and also make our farmers have more income.
“Without this bio-safety law in place I see Nigeria having serious problem in the next few years,” he added.
Meanwhile, in his paper entitled ‘Stopping the False National Kite’,
Director, HOMEF, Architect Nnimmo Bassey, argued that Nigeria cannot
accept genetically engineered foods despite the alleged move by the
Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, who
had said Nigeria cannot be left behind in accepting genetically
engineered foods.
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