Experts draw attention of NSA to risks of gene editing through GMOs
Some experts in Agriculture and policy have called on the National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, to pay attention to a recent attack on Nigerians via gene editing, achieved with the aid of Genetically Modified Organism (GMO) foods. Country Director of Project Sprint, Israel James, while speaking at a press conference in Abuja, along […]
GMOs
Some experts in Agriculture and policy have called on the National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, to pay attention to a recent attack on Nigerians via gene editing, achieved with the aid of Genetically Modified Organism (GMO) foods.
Country Director of Project Sprint, Israel James, while speaking at a press conference in Abuja, along with some other experts, urged the NSA to be conscious that gene editing is a war tool that is more dangerous than nuclear weapons.
James described food insecurity as a national security threat, linking inflation and the killings of farmers in agricultural hubs such as Plateau, Kaduna, Niger and other states of Nigeria to “coordinated economic warfare.”
James urged investigations into gene-edited seeds developed by foreign-owned technology and NGOs funding GMOs.
He cited Zimbabwe’s struggles with post-GMO adoption, warning that Nigeria could face worse, even GMOs monopolies.
The Country Director warned that Nigeria must rise to drive its food security through relevant policies, noting that agencies like USAID, OFAB and others should not be allowed to operate unchecked in the country.
“If we don’t secure our food basket regions, foreign actors will control our government through hunger,” he said.
Also, Deputy Director, Centre for Food Safety and Agricultural Research (CEFSAR), Dr. Segun Adebayo, advocates immediate policy reforms to safeguard Nigeria’s food-future.
Dr. Adebayo noted that Nigeria’s food sovereignty is not just security but remains non-negotiable with any foreign actors.
He likened Nigeria’s reliance on foreign entities to outsourcing household food from a hostile neighbour and criticised policies that favour foreign ownership in agriculture, arguing that they have left Nigeria vulnerable to neo-colonial exploitation.
The CEFSAR Deputy Director warned that GMO seeds, engineered to become sterile after two harvests, create dependency, allow foreign actors undue influence in Nigeria’s food systems, stressing that “it is like inviting a visitor who gradually takes over your home. If foreign corporations control our seeds, they can dictate terms for Nigeria. We must audit our policies and prioritise food sovereignty.”
Dr. Adebayo renewed call for the National Assembly to say no to GMOs and increase in budgetary allocation to agriculture so that Nigeria does not depend on foreign donors, who are most likely to threaten the country’s food security.
He also advocated a ban by the Federal Government on gene editing and protecting the country’s biodiversity to guarantee food security.
Ambassador Michael Nwabufo of Centre for African Policy Research and Advisory (CAPRA), in his presentation, warned against adoption of GMO seeds, stating that they threaten the DNA and food sovereignty of future generations.
Nwabufo outlined dangers such as unintended mutations, cancer risks and immune reactions, accusing the foreign entities of pushing harmful agenda.
He criticised misplaced public focus on social media scandals while foreigners seized the Nigerian food system and urged Nigerians to plant what they eat.
Nwabufo said: “NGOs are promoting GMOs, but I trust President Bola Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima to reject this. If our food is controlled by outsiders, they’ll decide whether we eat or starve. My team will uproot GMO crops and replace them with God-given seeds.”