By Dennis Mernyi
The Director-General National Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA), Dr. Rufus Ebegba has said, the agency will ensure that every institution that is engaged in genetic engineering in Nigeria is accredited to ensure that there are laid down guidelines to develop products.
He insisted that NBMA will make it possible the containment facilities, which are biological laboratories and greenhouses also meet our safety standards stating that “safe use of the technology can be used to diversify the economy, strengthen the economic base of our farmers, ensure higher yield and to ensure food security in the country”.
Speaking in Abuja when he met with the Executive Director of the African Agricultural Technology Fund (AATF) Dr Canisius Kanangire, he stated that equity is ensured through justice and economic benefit to the people.
“Every institution that owns generic facilities must have basic knowledge of Biosafety. We believe that the safe application of this technology will enhance our green economy/ bio-economy to ensure that our environment is safe and climate change is mitigated. We have not relented in the bid to ensure that our regulatory system is strengthened hence the amendment of the actin 2019.”
According to him, the Agency will ensure that Biosafety is applied in a way that the technology does not militate against conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity and also the equitable use of resources derived from the use of biological resources.
“The principle behind our regulatory system is to build a strong regulatory system that is not biased, that is based on strong science as well and it is on that premise that we carry out our Biosafety regulatory functions”
“For us to regulate we ensure that we have strong knowledge background and courage to take decisions in a technology that is controversial to an extent right from the onset.”
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“It should be noted that our regulatory system is hinged on the convention of biological diversity and the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety which Nigeria signed subsequently ratified. Biosafety is meant to ensure that measures and approaches are put in place for the safe application of modern Biotechnology and the safe use of the products which are genetically modified organisms.”
On his own part, the Executive Director of the AATF Dr. Canisius Kanangire said the essence of the visit to Nigeria was to introduce himself since the resumption of office in July and to seek ways to deepen collaboration and partnership between the GNBMA and AATF.
“For me, this is the only way to get to meet my partners because the partnership is very important in this business. We can’t work alone, the issues we are trying to address are so important and so big for one institution to understand, hence we need everyone including the policymakers to come and contribute their bit.
He said “we are willing to increase the pace as those who are expecting conditions to improve in their lives are many hence the need to keep going. We need stronger cooperation and partnership.”
