The Federal Government has called on scientists across ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs) to deepen their understanding of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) to ensure that their public communication and feedback on the subject are accurate, factual, and unambiguous.
The call came amid public division over the safety of GMOs, as reported by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
Speaking on Thursday in Abuja during a two-day workshop organised by the Open Forum on Agricultural Biotechnology (OFAB) Nigeria under the National Biotechnology Research and Development Agency (NBRDA), the government stressed the importance of building public trust through science and facts.
The event, themed “Biotechnology and Biosafety: Building Trust through Science and Facts,” provided a platform for stakeholders to examine the science, safety, and regulatory framework guiding GMO cultivation in Nigeria.
The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology, Mrs. Esuabana Nko-Asanye, emphasised that the public often looked to government institutions for clarity on complex scientific matters like GMOs.
“We must ensure that our knowledge base is not only accurate but also updated, enabling us to communicate facts in a clear and balanced manner,” she said. Nko-Asanye added that while innovations in biotechnology could help achieve sustainable food security, their adoption must be guided by caution, knowledge, and strict adherence to regulations.
Also speaking, the Director-General of NBRDA, Prof. Abdullahi Mustapha, noted that trust is built through transparency and open communication, not mere assurances. He stressed the need to publish data from GMO trials, explain safety assessment methods, and make results accessible to regulators and the public.
“To build that trust, we must be candid about both the potential of biotechnology and the legitimate concerns that citizens and civil society raise,” he said.
In his remarks, the Director-General of the National Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA), Mr. Bello Bwari, urged Nigerians to acknowledge the benefits of GMOs, including improved crop yields and resilience to pests and drought.
He assured that GMO products in Nigeria are subject to rigorous biosafety regulations designed to protect human health and the environment.
