Stakeholders in Nigeria’s agricultural and biotechnology sectors have underscored the importance of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) in enhancing food security, improving crop yields, and strengthening farmers’ resilience against pests and climate challenges.
They made this known during a two-day sensitisation workshop on GMOs and their products, organised for officials of the Federal Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology in Abuja.
The workshop, themed ‘Biotechnology and Biosafety: Building Trust Through Science and Facts,’ was facilitated by the National Biotechnology Research and Development Agency (NBRDA) in collaboration with the Ministry.
The programme focused on the role of modern biotechnology in transforming Nigeria’s agricultural landscape while ensuring safety and sustainability.
In his keynote address, the Director-General of NBRDA, Prof. Abdullahi Mustapha, said biotechnology has become a vital tool for agricultural advancement in Nigeria, with proven benefits in pest resistance, drought tolerance, and improved nutritional quality of crops.
‘Scientific innovation in agricultural biotechnology has never been an end in itself. It is a tool designed to deliver measurable benefits, greater resilience to pests and drought, improved nutritional quality, and higher and more reliable yields for our farmers,’ Mustapha said.
He explained that Nigerian farmers who adopted pest-resistant cowpea and drought-tolerant maize varieties have recorded significant yield increases, reduced pesticide costs, and greater income stability.
According to him, these successes demonstrate how biotechnology can directly uplift smallholder farmers and strengthen food security at the community level.
‘On farms where improved maize varieties with pest and drought tolerance have been deployed, farmers report steadier yields even under erratic rainfall. When crops withstand the twin pressures of pests and a changing climate, families are more secure and local markets more stable,’ he added.
Prof. Mustapha stressed that biosafety remains central to Nigeria’s biotechnology framework, ensuring that all genetically modified crops undergo rigorous risk assessment before approval. He noted that the goal of biosafety is to make scientific progress both safe and acceptable to the public.
‘Biosafety is not a barrier to progress but the mechanism by which progress becomes sustainable. Our work is guided by transparency, evidence, and public trust,’ he said.
Also speaking, the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology, Mrs. Asanye Nko Esuabana, said agricultural innovation through biotechnology offers viable solutions to Nigeria’s food production challenges caused by population growth, climate change, and declining arable land.
She noted that GMOs, when properly regulated, can play a key role in ensuring sustainable food systems, reducing hunger, and achieving national agricultural development goals.
‘For a developing country like Nigeria, it is crucial to embrace innovations that can help guarantee sustainable food production. However, the introduction and use of GMOs must be approached with caution, knowledge, and adherence to regulatory standards,’ Esuabana stated.
She added that the Federal Government, through the National Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA) and other stakeholders, has established strict guidelines to ensure that all GMO products in the country are safe for both humans and the environment.
The Permanent Secretary urged participants to use the knowledge gained from the workshop to educate the public and farmers on the benefits and safety of agricultural biotechnology, noting that misinformation often hinders acceptance of scientific innovations.
‘We must act as custodians of accurate information and communicate facts in a clear and balanced manner. This will help build public confidence in biotechnology as a driver of agricultural transformation,’ she said.
The workshop featured technical sessions on GMO regulation, biosafety procedures, and case studies of successful biotech crop deployment in Nigeria.
Experts from NBRDA and partner institutions reaffirmed that biotechnology, when responsibly applied, can help Nigeria achieve food self-sufficiency, create green jobs, and strengthen rural livelihoods.