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HOMEF: GMO Introduction into Nigeria’s Food Security Plan, A Big Mistake
HOMEF: GMO Introduction into Nigeria’s Food Security Plan, A Big Mistake
By: Michael Mike
Health of Mother Foundation has described the introduction of genetically modified organism (GMO) into Nigeria’s food security plan as a big mistake as it jeopardizes the potential of any country especially in Africa to reach their full potential in food production.
The Executive Director of HOMEF, Dr Nnimmo Bassey, In his opening remarks at a workshop organised for Judiciary Officials on GMOs and Biosafety in Nigeria, said GMO narrow down the varieties available and its becomes dominant threats to the local varieties available.
He said: “Introducing GMO’s for reason of food security is a big mistake, because GMO’s jeopardize the potential of any country especially in Africa to reach their full potential to achieve food security because GMO’s reduce biodiversity, its narrow down the varieties available and it becomes dominant threats to the local varieties available.”
He noted that the introduction of GMOs in Nigeria has raised serious concerns about safety, regulatory oversight, and their potential impacts on the country’s biosafety.
The subject of the dangers of GMO foods was front burner at the training organised by HOMEF in Abuja on Monday with discussion centered on the role the judiciary arms of government need to play and it’s also involved creating awareness for those who are interpreting the nation’s laws as it’s border on the guide of the agency of government that are saddle with the responsibility of regulating, such as biosafety agency.
Bassey added that “to provide alternative in place of GMOs, we should first realize that it is food sovereignty that secure food security. What that means is that we should be depending on our indigenous species, ensuring that food we produce conforms to our culture, the government should also ensure that there is proper infrastructure because today many of the food produce are wasting because there is no storage facility.
“However, we realize that government can make mistakes and that’s why we need strict liability in the law. So, when the citizens found out that what you said was safe it’s not really safe, you should be held accountable. So, that the government we not continue to use us as guinea pigs.”
In his reaction, one of the participants at the workshop, Barrister Inibehe Effiong said: “I think the training is very necessary. It is intended to equip members of the judiciary, both lawyers, and My Lord on the bench with the requisite technical knowledge about GMOs in Nigeria, genetically modified organisms. For many people in our country, it is a novel concept. They are not quite familiar with what GMOs was all about. And because, we are seeing many food products being introduced in the market. And then there are regulatory issues regarding that and the manner in which authorizations and permits are issued under the law.
“For example, under the part seven of the national biosafety management agency act, there have been questions over time, about the manner in which those permits are issued. Would they have been causes or instances where HOMEF has tried to activate the judicial process to test the regulatory framework for issuing authorization.”
He said: “What we found from those court cases, is that there was a need to keep our judges and even lawyers with the legal framework governing GMOs in Nigeria. So that when such cases come before them, they can understand what exactly the issues are about and that was why, HOMEF deemed it fit to organize this training and bring to focus the seriousness of the matter, because as I stated, most Nigerians don’t really know what GMO was about. But lately we have seen conversations on social media, people are becoming more increasingly aware of it.”
He urged all Nigerians to reject all GMOs and also engage in various levels of personal and community education, sensitisation, and advocacy to demand the withdrawal/repeal of policies and legislation that allow licensing and indeed permit the cultivation, distribution and public consumption of GMOs.
HOMEF: GMO Introduction into Nigeria’s Food Security Plan, A Big Mistake
Zulum Receives Seven Ambassadors, UN Officials on Humanitarian Visit to Maiduguri
By: Michael Mike
Borno State Governor, Prof. Babagana Zulum has received ambassadors from seven countries alongside senior United Nations and federal government officials during a high-level humanitarian visit to Maiduguri.
The visiting diplomats represented India, Egypt, Indonesia, the Philippines, Turkey, Malaysia and Qatar. They were accompanied by the United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, Mohamed Fall, and the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Bernard Doro.
The visit was organised to give the international partners an opportunity to directly assess the humanitarian situation in Borno State and observe ongoing recovery and development efforts following years of conflict.
During the visit on Tuesday, the delegation was taken on a tour of key projects implemented by the Zulum administration in the areas of education, healthcare and human capital development. The tour was led by the Acting Governor of the state, Umar Usman Kadafur.
Addressing journalists after the tour, the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator praised Governor Zulum for what he described as visible and impactful infrastructure development across the state. He noted that the projects showcased a different narrative from the usual focus on security challenges in the region.
According to Fall, initiatives in education, vocational skills training, girl-child education and malnutrition treatment demonstrate deliberate efforts to improve the lives of residents and address the underlying causes of the humanitarian crisis. He stressed that sustained investment in education remains critical to long-term peace and development in the state.
Also speaking, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation expressed satisfaction with the level of progress recorded in Borno despite more than a decade of conflict. He commended the governor’s leadership, describing the facilities visited as practical tools for empowering residents and lifting them out of poverty.
The minister added that the vocational centres, comprehensive schools and other social infrastructure reflect a strong commitment to recovery, resilience and inclusive development in the state.
Zulum Receives Seven Ambassadors, UN Officials on Humanitarian Visit to Maiduguri
Reckless police teargas firing sparks fire outbreak in Katsina cement shop
By: Zagazola Makama
A routine police patrol in Katsina State on Monday degenerated into a fire incident after officers recklessly fired teargas into a cement shop, causing a blaze and injuring a trailer driver in Charanchi Local Government Area.
Zagazola Makama learnt that the incident occurred at about 6:00 p.m. on Feb. 2, when personnel attached to the Malumfashi Division intercepted an unregistered cement trailer while returning from special duty en route from Katsina to Malumfashi.
Witnesses said that instead of handling the traffic offence with restraint, the patrol team fired teargas, which strayed into a nearby cement shop owned by Umar Abdullahi, and ignited a fire.
“The teargas landed inside the shop and immediately started a fire. People ran out in panic. We had to struggle to put it out,” a resident said.
The fire destroyed some goods before it was eventually extinguished by residents and emergency responders.
The trailer driver, Gambo Abdurrahman, of Gidan Dawa, Katsina, also sustained a fracture on his right leg during the incident. He was rushed to General Hospital, Kankia, and later referred to an Orthopaedic Hospital for specialist treatment.
Police sources confirmed that the situation had been brought under control and that the officers involved had been defaulted for disciplinary action.
“The Command has ordered a full investigation into the reckless use of teargas that led to the fire outbreak and injury. Appropriate sanctions will follow,” a senior officer said.
Reckless police teargas firing sparks fire outbreak in Katsina cement shop
Terrorists kill scores in Kwara village attack – lawmaker
By: Zagazola Makama
Scores of persons were killed in a terrorist attack on Woro Village in Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara State, the lawmaker representing Kaiama in the State House of Assembly, Hon. Saidu Baba Ahmed, has confirmed.
Ahmed who disclosed this on Wednesday said that the death toll had risen to 35 as of this morning, while many residents were still missing in the surrounding bush after fleeing the community during the attack.
“I’m on my way to Woro where the mayhem took place yesterday, along with a detachment of soldiers from Ilorin. I have also been informed that other soldiers are following the attackers. I’m glad to say that I spoke with the Emir this morning and he is alive,” he said.
Security sources said the attack occurred on Feb. 3 at about 7:07 p.m., when terrorists suspected to be Boko Haram Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati wal-Jihad (JAS) stormed Woro, setting houses and shops ablaze as residents fled in panic.
The assailants reportedly withdrew after spotting an approaching aircraft, but intelligence indicates they may still be lurking nearby and could attempt to return once security pressure eases.
Meanwhile, security sources warned that terrorist operations are escalating across the North-West and North-Central, with attacks spreading into border communities with the Republic of Benin, particularly in Kwara and Niger States.
The sources noted that terrorists infiltrating from the Sahel axis have merged with local criminal groups. Two major groups – JNIM/AQIM and IS Sahel are said to be competing for territory, using forest corridors and borderlands as launch pads for further attacks.
While parts of the North-West face encroachment from ISIS-linked elements along Niger’s borders with Sokoto and Kebbi, JNIM’s operations reportedly stretch from the W–Arly–Pendjari (WAP) Forest Complex into Benin, diverting into North-Central Nigeria.
Zagazola stressed that containing the threat requires strong regional cooperation, describing the violence as part of a wider Sahelian security crisis rather than an isolated state-level problem.
Terrorists kill scores in Kwara village attack – lawmaker
Zulum Receives Seven Ambassadors, UN Officials on Humanitarian Visit to Maiduguri
Reckless police teargas firing sparks fire outbreak in Katsina cement shop
OPINION: Growing ISWAP–ISIS ties in Sahel after Niamey attack threaten Lake Chad and West African security corridor
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