Biosafety: Expert stress need for an effective communication strategy

Mr Ademola Usman, Head, National Biosafety Unit at the Ministry of Environment said at a review meeting on the national communication strategy that policymakers and the general public need to enlightened on the benefit of the technology which though perceived as controversial but  holds to key to food security and food sufficiency.“Every strata of the […]

Mr Ademola Usman, Head, National Biosafety Unit at the Ministry of Environment said at a review meeting on the national communication strategy that policymakers and the general public need to enlightened on the benefit of the technology which though perceived as controversial but  holds to key to food security and food sufficiency.
“Every strata of the society including policymaker has to be enlightened on the immense benefit of this technology which dividends other countries of the world are already reaping,” he said.
The meeting which was attended by participants from the academia, public and private sector are preparing the grounds for the eventual signing of the Biosafety bill by Mr President.
The Biosafety bill was articulated by stakeholders in 2006 and sent to the National Assembly in 2009, passed by the House of Representatives in 2010 while the Senate passed the law in 2011.
The bill was moved to the President’s desk since 2011 and Nigerians are waiting for him to ascent to it.
Mr Rufus Ebegba, an official of the Biosafety Unit said that the meeting was convened to enable the stakeholders familiarise themselves with the strategies adding that Biosafety communication was an integral component of Biosafety risk anaylsis.