The National Biosafety Management Agency, NBMA, said it has, in
conjunction with the Nigerian Customs Service, ordered that the
genetically modified (GM) maize consignment illegally imported into
Nigeria be sent back.
Rufus Egbegba, the Director-General of NBMA, said this at a news conference on Tuesday in Abuja.
“In view of the information and facts on ground, the agency, in
fulfilment of its mandate and in collaboration with the Nigerian Customs
Service, ordered the repatriation of the maize consignment with
immediate effect,’’ he said.
He recalled that in October, the agency was informed of the importation of a large maize consignment.
Mr. Egbegba said: “The NBMA had to step in to avert the release of
the maize consignment into the country due to the failure of the
importing company to obtain a GM seed import permit from the NBMA,’’ he
said.
“Representatives of the company were invited to provide more
information on the GM status of their import, after which the NBMA
proceeded to obtain samples and conduct laboratory tests to ascertain
the GM status of the imported maize.
“The results of the analysis and the tests by an independent
laboratory of six samples showed categorically that the maize imports
were actually genetically modified maize.’’
The director-general stressed that the NBMA was proactive and would
not tolerate any illegalities or shortcuts in its efforts to protect the
lives of Nigerians and the integrity of their environment.
“The essence of ensuring that permit is granted before the release of
any genetically modified seed, grains, or organisms is to ensure that
risks assessment is carried out to ascertain their safety to the
environment and human health,’’ he said.
Mr. Egbegba, therefore, advised all stakeholders to abide by the extant biosafety laws to avoid any form of sanction.
“The advice is in line with the NBMA Act, Part VII.
“It states that no person, institution or body shall import, export,
transit or commercialise any genetically modified organism or product
intended for direct use as food or feed, or for processing unless with
the approval of the Agency.
“The NBMA is by this Act empowered to sanction any erring party for
importing or releasing unauthorised genetically modified products, be it
grains or any kind of seed, as the case may be.
“The Act made it clear that any person, institution or body that
wishes to import, export, transit or otherwise carry out such
activities, or undertake confined field trial, multi-locational trial or
commercial release of a GMO, shall apply to the Director-General of
NBMA prior to such activity.’’
Mr. Egbegba assured the citizens that their safety was the priority
of NBMA and urged them to see the agency as a dependable body that could
protect their interests.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the Nigeria Customs Service
recently impounded 90 tonnes of GM maize, valued at about $10 million,
which was illegally imported into the country through the Apapa seaport
in Lagos.
The GM maize was reportedly imported from Argentina.
NAN