GMO crops ‘ll help Nigeria attain food security faster, AFAN president says

If Nigeria adopts the usage of genetically modified organism seeds, its national president, Kabiru Ibrahim, believes the nation will be able to attain food security more quickly.

His comments coincide with a resurgence of discussion in Nigeria about the safety of genetically modified plants for human and environmental health.

The House of Representatives demanded in May that GMOs be prohibited in Nigeria until after a thorough inquiry was completed.

This decision was made in response to a motion made by Muktar Shagaya, the legislator for Kwara State's Ilorin West/Asa Federal Constituency, after lengthy discussions and concerns expressed by a number of parties.

As to his statement, the National Biosafety Management Agency authorised the introduction of genetically modified crops without following the correct legal procedures and scientific protocols.

The NBMA introduced GM crops into the country in 2019, as a measure to combat food insecurity.

In 2022, NBMA’s Director General and Chief Executive Officer, Rufus Ebegba, clarified that “none of the GMOs approved in the country has any risk associated with it.”
Nonetheless, a number of environmental and health organisations questioned the nation's adoption of GMOs, arguing that it went against the nation's food sovereignty ideals.

According to the World Health Organisation, genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are plants, animals, or microbes whose genetic makeup has been changed via technology that enables the transfer of specific individual genes from one creature into another.

The technology is referred to as genetic engineering, gene technology, or modern biotechnology.

According to the WHO, the purpose of genetically modified plants (GM) is to increase crop protection by introducing resistance to plant illnesses brought on by insects or viruses.

The health group went on to say that questions have been raised concerning the safety of genetically modified foods, including the possibility of allergic reactions, the spread of genes from the food to people, and potential conflicts between GM crops and traditional seeds.
It did, however, point out that no allergic reactions have been reported, that fields designated for GM and traditional crops have been clearly segregated, and that the use of gene transfer technologies that does not involve antibiotic resistance genes is promoted.

The controversy was sparked up again this week on X, the former home of Twitter, when some people claimed that a large number of the market's cowpeas, or beans, were actually genetically modified crops.

A user going by the handle @eze_aguiyi, Ezeaguyi, called for a large-scale demonstration against genetically modified maize, beans and eggs.

According to NaijaFarmer, another user, the white bean is a GMO variety known as Pod Resistant Variety, which was introduced in 2019.

"Ask the woman (when you buy akara tonight) if it is a GMO seed she's frying," he urged fellow tweeps. Find out if the market mallam is selling GMO beans by asking him. (sic).

The president of AFAN responded to the allegations by saying that GM crop use boosts productivity and guarantees Nigeria achieves food security more quickly.

He clarified that genetically modified crops are safe and grounded in science.

Ibrahim said that those who claimed a link existed between diseases and genetically modified crops had not yet provided evidence to support their claims.

He pointed out that the cowpea that is being contested, the Pod Borer Resistant cowpea, was altered to resist drought and insect infestation, giving it a larger yield than the typical seed variety.

The benefit is that it would even enable farmers to escape poverty. Two years ago, we introduced the PBR cowpea in Alausa, Lagos State. The AFAN president stated, "It was used to make Akara and Moi Moi, and people came and ate. We also ate out of it, and we are healthy.

The NBMA controls the release of genetically modified crops and will only authorise their release if they comply with safety requirements, according to the former president of the Poultry Farmers Association, who also brought up the biosafety law.

The head of AFAN went on to refute the idea that genetically modified crops will bring about starvation, claiming instead that they will boost productivity, guarantee a larger yield, and bring prosperity.

We recently introduced the Tela maize in Nigeria. The Tela variety of maize is resistant to stem borers, army worms, and drought. Its yield surpasses that of regular hybrid maize as well.

Therefore, GM crops are Nigeria's best chance to escape poverty and achieve food security. Brazil is currently a developed nation because of this. In terms of maize, beans, and other crops, the majority of what leaves Brazil is genetically modified.

Additionally, we have imported corn from Argentina for the poultry business, and it is located in Lagos. Due of the rivalry between animals and humans, we need to embrace GM crops so that we will be able to optimise our productivity and be able to feed both our animals and humans,” Ibrahim said.

He further noted that there was already a law regulating the use of GM crops in the country, stating that the motion to stop the release of GM was done out of ignorance as a motion can’t contradict a law.
The president of AFAN issued a challenge to those who are opposed to the usage of genetically modified crops, asking them to support their claims with scientific data.

"Every nation you see has food security, and they even use genetically modified organisms." If Nigeria adopts GM crops, it will achieve food security.

"We have a fairly large population. With over 200 million people, we still struggle or struggle with food security today. When there are 400 million of us, what will happen?

"We ought to investigate every avenue in order to achieve food security. Thus, he emphasised, "Anyone who tells you that genetically modified crops or seeds are infertile or anything else is ignorant."

The president of AFAN went on to say that the devaluation of the naira was a major cause of the present food crisis, adding that last year's effects of climate change and spillover from insecurity also played a role.

Ibrahim claimed that if a food security emergency is declared, then there must also be emergencies about corruption, insecurity, and the naira's purchasing power.

He also criticised the reliance on imports and the expenses associated with the landing of imported food goods, claiming that these factors led to the increase in food prices.

In order to guarantee lower food prices and availability, the farmer advocated for local food crop production.