The Federal Government, through the National Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA), said it has approved the commercial release of three genetically modified (GMO) crops within the past six years, underscoring Nigeria’s growing capacity in home-grown biotechnology innovations aimed at strengthening food security and driving economic growth.

The approved crops are Bt Cotton, resistant to bollworm pests (approved in 2016); PBR Cowpea, also known as GM beans, engineered to resist the Maruca vitrata (pod borer) pest (approved in 2019); and TELA Maize, which combines insect resistance with drought tolerance (approved in 2021).

All three crops were developed by Nigerian scientists from the Institute for Agricultural Research (IAR), Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Kaduna State.

The initiatives are expected to advance President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda by improving agricultural productivity and ensuring food security.

Speaking during a visit to the NBMA headquarters in Abuja, the Executive Director of IAR, Prof. Mohammed Ishiyaku, expressed appreciation to the agency’s Director-General and Chief Executive Officer, Bello Bawa Bwari, for his leadership and support.

He congratulated Bwari on his appointment and reaffirmed IAR’s commitment to developing improved crop varieties through advanced research to address challenges such as pests, diseases, and low yields.

Ishiyaku assured that the institute would continue to operate in compliance with NBMA regulations to ensure the safe and responsible application of modern biotechnology.

He also commended the agency for approving the three GMO crops for commercial cultivation in the country.

In his response, NBMA Director-General, Bello Bawa Bwari, reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to advancing the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda through the promotion of safe and scientifically validated biotechnology innovations aimed at achieving food security and sovereignty.

“We are committed to championing and promoting scientifically approved, safe agricultural products across the country. Our goal is to boost agricultural productivity, uplift farmers from poverty, and ensure that Nigeria attains genuine food security and sovereignty,” he said.

Bwari commended the IAR team for adhering to global ethical and regulatory standards in biotechnology research and urged them to remain steadfast in compliance with biosafety guidelines.

He further emphasized that the NBMA remains an impartial regulator dedicated to ensuring that only biotechnology products proven to be safe for humans, animals, and the environment are approved for use in Nigeria. (The Guardian)