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Experts Urge NASS To Ban GMO In Nigeria, Says It Is A Time Bomb

Published

1 month ago

November 19, 2024

Gloria Ikibah

…says insecurity is caused by international community

…as agric minister assures FG will protect the interest of Nigerians

By Gloria Ikibah

A group of experts known as the “GMO-Free Nigeria Alliance” which comprises of over 200 individuals and groups including farmers, civil society, scientists/researchers, nutritionists, legal practitioners, medical practitioners, women and youth groups have raised alarm on the negative effects of Genetically Modified Organisms on Nigeria food system, human and environmental health.

The group which urged members of the National Assembly to place a ban on GMOs in the country stating that external forces who are behind the introduction of GMOs in Nigeria have fueled insecurity.

The group which represents millions of the Nigerian people with a share common concern disclosed this during a public hearing by the House Committee on Agricultural Production on genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs).

One of the consultant to the group, Johnson Ekpere presenting their memorandum to the Commitee said that government must take it as a personal responsibility to immediately declare a policy of no to GMO and GMO distribution and circulation in Nigeria should be halted.

He said: “We would like to see in the interim, while the argument is even going on, a national moratorium declared that even if they are not convinced that the adverse effects which majority of the experts have spoken eloquently to are obvious, even if they still want to go ahead with the investigation, pending when they reach a conclusion, GMO distribution and circulation in Nigeria should be halted.

“Because there is not a perception that you can do to Nigerians whatever you want to do and nothing will happen. And that explains some of the institutional arrogance that we witness today. To the point that someone was so audacious to say it is better to eat and die than not to eat and die.

“While we recognise the governments efforts at improving food security in Nigeria, the adoption of GMOs as a silver bullet to agricultural challenges is an error. Continuing this path holds serious implications on Nigeria’s food sovereignty, on our biodiversity/environmental sustain-ability, and on our health.

“We recommend a wholistic approach to these problems – one that addresses the root causes, ensures food security/food sovereignty, empowers the small holder farmers who are the mainstay of Nigeria’s agriculture system and builds biodiversity and overall environmental resilience.

“This Memorandum calls on the Nigerian National Assembly to ban GMOs in Nigeria and to instead, invest in Agroecology comprising of Organic Agriculture, Regenerative Agriculture, Agroforestry and other practices that are proven to be able to transform the Nigerian Food system to sustain-ability.

“GMOs do not Improve Productivity

In September 2024 the National Cotton Association of Nigeria (NACOTAN) reported that they “did not record any significant increase in their yields compared to the local seed varieties but instead, since the introduction of GM cotton seeds during the 2020/2021 farming season, yield per hectare has remained almost the same.

“They also reported that no other plant has been able to germinate on the farmlands where the GM seeds were planted, even after four years. Across the country, farmers have complained that with GMOs, productivity reduces in the second planting season, meaning farmers cannot replant these seeds but have to continuously purchase the seeds every new season.

“While some GMOs are designed to have increased levels of some nutrients, studies have revealed that other essential nutrients or functions can be reduced in the process. An in-depth scientific comparison of GM crops and their non-GM varieties shows that the assumption of substantial equivalence is false, as unexpected differences has been found. Examples include that GM soy had 12–14% lower amounts of isoflavones than non-GM soy; GM soy had 27% higher levels of a major allergen, trypsin-inhibitor, than the non-GM parent variety.

“Burkina Faso, in 2016 phased out GM Cotton because it produced a poor quality lint which fetched low prices for the farmers and amounted to millions of dollars of losses. The same variety was approved for commercial release in Nigeria, that same year.

“Nigerians’ Right to Safe Food

Decisions made by the government should be in the interest of the Nigerian people. Since this year, 2024, there has been increased demands from the Nigerian people in online media and several other fora for a ban on GMOs.

” Nigerians do not want this technology in our food and the government’s persistent approval of GMOs, means a total disregard for the rights of the people and exposes the vested interest in this technology.

“GMOs are not currently being labeled in Nigeria. Although this is important, it is not a realistic practice considering of socio-economic context; with food mostly sold in basins in open markets and in processed forms.

“Additionally, Nigerians are consuming imported processed foods bought from supermarkets without any idea that they are made from the genetically modified organisms (GMOs). The manner in which these items are imported into the country calls for serious concern” he stated.

Briefing Journalist on the aftermath of the hearing, Executive Director Center for Food Safety and Agriculture Research, Qrisstuberg Amua said international forces were reason behind insecurity in Nigeria .

He said: “From Benue State, a food basket that is becoming empty, not because Benue people are not producing food, not because they don’t have GMOs, it’s because ethnic and foreign interests have successfully, and I’m saying this boldly to the media and to Nigerians, because I’m a researcher, ethnic interests that are interested in marketing, dumping GMOs, which are agents of mass destruction. These are biological weapons. I’m a professor of bioinorganic chemistry.

“They are pushing insecurity on our nation, sponsoring it clandestinely, and I challenge the national security apparatus to look deeply into, investigate into why our farmers can’t go to farms, only to create a scenario of hunger to advertise genetically modified poisons.

“In agriculture, they are gain-of-function research outcomes. That means these transgenes, they are transgenic, can be manipulated to do exactly what they have been manipulated to do. Number one, whereas our grandparents were having children, our mothers were having children, 11, 12, 13, today, young Nigerian girls marry, and they are jumping from one fertility clinic to another, struggling to get pregnant”.

Also speaking earlier at the hearing, Minister of Agriculture and food security Sen Abubakar Kyari said the federal government would not in any way promote anything that would endanger the people .

“The government would not deliberately bring what is poisonous to the people . This forum is meant for searing ideas from the GMOs experts to find a level plane field for food security.

“There are seed councils and regulatory bodies, res rich institute in charge of checkmating seedlings used by farmers hence the need for a collaborative effort”, he stated.

News

Renovation: Tinubu, Shettima’s official quarters to gulp N6.36bn

Published

2 hours ago

December 23, 2024

Naijablitznews

The Federal Government has allocated a total of N6,364,181,224 billion for the renovation and rehabilitation of the residential quarters of President Bola Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima, and some of their aides in the 2025 budget proposal.

Sunday PUNCH’s analysis of the proposed allocation, contained in the 2025 Appropriation Bill presented to the National Assembly, showed that the annual maintenance of the Presidential Villa would gulp N5.49bn.

According to the proposed budget, N765m will be used for the renovation of the Vice President’s quarters and guest house.

The renovation of the president’s quarters at the State House will cost N6.39m, while the renovation of security quarters, auditorium, gymnasium and presidential aides’ quarters will cost N49m.

In addition, the renovation of Prescott barracks at Maple State House officers’ mess building and signal office in Asokoro, Abuja will cost N51m.

Further analysis of the budget revealed that Tinubu and his vice are also expected to have N87m as honorarium and sitting allowances, while N127m was allocated for the procurement of SUVs.

Also, N3.66bn was budgeted for the purchase of State House operational vehicles and N1,09bn will be spent on replacement of SUV vehicles at the State House.

Under the budget of the State House Lagos Liaison Office, there is an allocation of N14.72m for the routine maintenance of State House Lagos facilities (Dodan Barracks, Vice President guest houses at Ikoyi, among others).

Another N140.10m was allocated for the completion of renovation and furnishing of the State House annex (Dodan Barracks), Lagos.

Meanwhile, the Federal Government is planning to spend N1.83bn on converting forfeited properties from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission into State House quarters.

The plan to convert forfeited houses from the EFCC comes in the same month that the commission disclosed the recovery of an estate in the Lokogoma District of Abuja, measuring 150,500 square metres and containing 753 units of duplexes and other apartments.

The commission described this as its “single largest asset recovery” since its inception in 2003.

The estate rests on Plot 109 Cadastral Zone C09 of the district, and was forfeited in a ruling on Monday, December 2, 2024, by Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie.

(Punch)

News

SEE NAIRA Rates Against The USD, GBP, EURO Today December 23, 2024

Published

2 hours ago

December 23, 2024

Naijablitznews

WHEN we look at this month, USD was traded at ₦ at the beginning of this December on Monday, December 2, 2024. As at today with USD being traded at ₦1,655 we see a % for United States Dollar to Naira exchange rate for this month.

On this page, we are primarily focusing on the Black Market Dollar To Naira Exchange Rate Today, the USD to Naira currency pair are the most traded currency in the FX market.

Black Market Exchange Rates
Buying Rate
Selling Rate
Dollar to Naira 1655 1640
Pounds to Naira 2150 2000
Euro to Naira 1730 1700
Canadian Dollar to Naira 1146 1135
Rand to Naira 52 43
Dirham to Naira ‎0 0
Yuan to Naira 62 62
G.Cedi to Nair 70 50
CFA F. (XOF) To Naira 0.83 0.81
CFA F. (XAF) To Naira 0.74 0.74
READ ALSO: INSIDE LIFE: 26-Year-Old Lady Died In Bangladesh With No One To Claim Her Body, She Is A Nigerian From Enugu (SEE PHOTO)

Having full knowledge how much USD to NGN black market exchange rate today will give you a better opportunity to plan and make informed decisions.

Nairatoday.com

News

Passengers Stranded As Warri-Itakpe Train Derails In Delta Community

Published

2 hours ago

December 23, 2024

Naijablitznews

Passengers of a train plying the Warri-Itakpe route escaped death on Sunday as the train derailed at Okpara in the Ethiope East Local Government Area of Delta State.

It was gathered that the passengers were stranded following the incident that happened at about 10pm.

According to eyewitness accounts, some of the passengers got to their destinations on Monday morning.

“The incident happened at Okpara Station last night. They stole many people’s phones and other valuables when they slept at night,” a source said.

“It’s this morning that everybody began to find their way to their various destinations.”

The Nigerian Railway Corporation confirmed the incident in a statement by its spokesman, Yakub Mahmood on Monday.

Mahmood said the service will resume shortly, adding that a team of engineers is at the site of the incident to ensure the track is restored soon.

According to him, the train service will resume as scheduled on Monday afternoon.

The statement reads in part, “The management of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) hereby informs the general public, especially our valued passengers that ply the Warri-Itakpe route, that following the minor derailment yesterday at the Okpara station, the service will resume shortly as our team of engineers are at the site of the accident to ensure the track is restored anytime soon.

“However, Itakpe-Warri (Ujewu) train will resume as scheduled in the afternoon today.

“All inconveniences caused as a result of the minor derailment is highly regretted.”