Why Nigeria should Ban Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) Immediately

The dangers that Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) constitute to human health are well to experts, and account to why they are duly banned in other countries of the world.

However, do you know that such GMOs are well in use in Nigeria, with all its concomitant dangers?

The stunning revelation came to the fore at the weekend in Abuja during a stakeholders meeting which was also addressed by two experts.

The two, the Executive Director of Centre for Food Safety and Agricultural Research (CEFSAR), Prof. Chris Qrisstuberg Amua, and that of the Centre for African Policy Research and Advisory, Dr. Segun Adebayo, have thus called for the ban of GMOs in the country.

Their submission is coming amidst increasing concerns of prevalence of diseases, on the one hand, and on the other hand, the need to ensure food safety.

There are studies that that unsafe food results in an estimated 173 million cases of diarrhea due to foodborne illness, and approximately 33,000 deaths.

A non governmental organization (NGO) the Consumer Advocacy for Food Safety and Nutrition Initiative (CAFSANI), which made this submission in a study in 2021 cited an example with Kebbi State, which lthough an agrarian state with diverse animal and plant-based food products, still battles a high level of malnutrition and food insecurity alongside foodborne diseases.

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Part of the problem, it had been established is the preference for processed food rather than natural ones.

In fact, according to Professor Amua, Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO) products being introduced into the country constitute a huge health risk to Nigerians.

To be continued