In a bid to enhance the regulation and safety of Genetically Modified (GM) foods in Nigeria, the National Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA) and the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) have agreed to establish a Technical Working Group (TWG).
The Honourable Minister of State for Health, Dr Tunji Alausa, stated that the decision is aimed at strengthening inter-agency collaboration on food safety.
The TWG’s mandate will include developing terms of reference and setting up a dedicated secretariat to streamline the cooperative efforts of NBMA and NAFDAC. This initiative is part of a broader strategy to ensure that GM food regulation in Nigeria is scientifically sound and transparent.
Alausa emphasised the importance of consistent communication between government agencies to enhance synergy and effectively address public concerns about GM foods. He stressed on the extensive scientific evidence supporting the safety of GM foods and advocated for a unified approach to public communication on this issue.
Director-General of NBMA, Dr Agnes Yemisi Asagbra, expressed appreciation for the Hon. Minister’s leadership in convening the meeting. She confirmed that NBMA maintains close working relations with NAFDAC, formalised through a Memorandum of Understanding established in 2017.
Dr Asagbra clarified that NBMA does not issue GM food permits without NAFDAC’s involvement, reinforcing the collaborative nature of their regulatory processes.
Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, NAFDAC’s director general, reiterated the agency’s commitment to protecting consumer health through rigorous scientific research and safety assessments.
She addressed past misunderstandings regarding GM foods, emphasising that NAFDAC’s decisions are based on thorough evaluation of scientific evidence.
The agencies also agreed to continue their collaboration on risk assessment and GM food labeling, enhance capacity-building and training exchanges, and pursue joint efforts in information technology and global listing initiatives.
