By Juliana Agbo

The Director General of the National Biotechnology Development Agency (NABDA), Professor Abdullahi Mustapha said the concern about allergenicity as raised by sceptics on genetically modified foods has not been scientifically founded.

Mustapha said with the growing concern about the environmental impacts of large-scale use of insecticides, pesticides and the campaign launched to reduce the use of such chemicals, biotechnology applications provide a ready substitute.

The DG who made this known on Thursday in Abuja while sensitising the staff of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) on progress made in modern biotechnology in the country, added that plant varieties resistant to insects (Bt cowpea and Bt. cotton) can help to cut down the total amount of insecticides used.

“This in turn can improve environmental quality”, he said.

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While noting that the current rate of extinction in the world today calls for timely intervention to conserve species that can thrive in harsh environmental conditions, he said biotechnology is a powerful scientific tool which is revolutionising the way things are done.

“Some transgenic plants can produce higher levels of certain crucial nutrients, which can improve the nutritional quality of foods. Thus, the place of transgenic crops in our food production endeavour is enormous.

“The concern about allergenicity as raised by sceptics has not been scientifically founded after all. Some transgenic crops currently available in the world are maize, soybean, canola, cowpea, sugarcane and cotton.

“This sensitisation is aimed at providing accurate and up to date information about advances in the biotechnology sector since its adoption in Nigeria in order to ensure that the FCCPC Staff are fully acquainted with facts about GMOs and effectively disseminate the same to the public”, he said.

On his part, the Executive Vice Chairman of FCCPC, Babatunde Irukera said the essence of the workshop therefore is to expose the members of staff of the Commission to facts about this group of consumer goods and dispel the concerns.

“It is pertinent to note that the Commission’s mandate covers all consumer products including GMOs and its derivatives, be it plant or animal-based products; to ensure consumers have access to safe and wholesome products and that their rights are protected”, he noted.

Irukera who was represented by a Director at the Commission, Dr Abdullahi Adamu, said one of the core functions of the Commission as stated in the Federal Competition & Consumer Protection Act (FCCPA) 2018, section 17 (o) is “to organize or undertake campaigns and other forms of activities capable of promoting increased private and public consumer awareness”.

“So, in a bid to carry out this function effectively with science – based facts and dispel the myths with regards to the products of modern biotechnology (GMOs), this workshop is being organized; that the members of staff of FCCPC will go out with key messages and facts, and allay the unwarranted fears of the public.

“The workshop will also ensure the discharge of the Commission’s mandate to promote and protect the rights of consumers to information, choice and so on, as pertain to Genetically Modified Organisms amongst others; as well as ensuring a level playing field for businesses to thrive by promoting competitiveness thereby dismantling monopoly”, he added.

In her remark, the Country Coordinator of Open Forum on Agricultural Biotechnology (OFAB), Dr Rose Gidado said the workshop also aims to build consumers’ confidence in biotechnology and its products.

She added that it would let FCCPC know the facts and myths about GMOs, to demystify biotechnology concepts and address issues of misunderstanding in the face of opposition from the anti-GM group.

Also, the Director General of National Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA), Dr Rufus Ebegba said his Agency recently signed an MoU with the FCCPC in the view of working together for the Agencies to understand themselves, and also FCCPC being the voice of consumers, it needs to understand what NBMA do because it regulates a product which has become so controversial.