Govt develops capacity of 1,470 GMO detectors, establishes three research centres
The Federal Government, through the National Biosafety Management Agency (NMBA), has trained 1,470 Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) detectors and analysts to foster enhanced regulations and to ensure the safe application of modern biotechnology.
It has also set up three institutions – the Nigerian Institute of Horticultural Research, INQABA Biotech West Africa and Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Calabar, accredited for GMO experimentation to prevent risks to humans health and environment.
The Minister of Environment, Balarabe Lawal, who stated these during the Ministerial Press Briefing in Abuja, explained that there are confirmed Field Trails (CFT) for planting GMO crops in Nigeria, and surveillance of 32 supermarkets to check for GMO products.
Lawal noted that they launched the Sub-National Climate Governance Performance Ranking Report in Ebonyi, Enugu, Katsina and Taraba states and have developed and finalised the Climate Policy and Action Plans at the sub-national levels, like Kano, Kaduna, Borno, Gombe.
He explained that the Nigeria Erosion and Watershed Management Project (NEW-MAP) is a multi-sectoral initiative funded by the European Investment Bank to address land degradation and erosion challenges in Nigeria.
According to the minister, the project has finalised 95 per cent preliminary processes and is expected to begin disbursement in 2025 and end in 2029, aiming to promote environmental sustainability and improve livelihoods.
On Ogoni cleanup project, he said they have initiated the world’s most extensive mangrove restoration in the area through Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project, while the pilot phase of 560 hectares of land is 85 per cent completed, with over two million seedlings comprising red, black, and white species planted.
“The ministry, under the plastic waste management initiative, secured the Federal Executive Council, Ministries Departments, and Agencies to ban single-use plastics, and it is also working with the European Union to implement a roadmap for managing plastic waste, with actions set to begin soon.
“NODSRA Satellite-based Methane Emissions Tracker (SMET) prototype in collaboration with the Stakeholder Democracy Network (SDN) is working together in the area of detecting, measuring, and quantifying methane emissions across Nigeria’s oil and gas sector.”
Lawal further explained that the goal is to improve the resilience of affected communities to climate change and climate variability in the dry lands of Nigeria.
“Major achievements of NAGGW is the raising of 3,850,000 Neem seedlings to provide medicinal raw materials; establishment of 175km shelterbelt in Borno, Kebbi, Zamfara, Kano, Sokoto, Katsina and Jigawa states.”
