Civil groups misleading Nigerians on genetic foods – DG National Biosafety Agency

The Director-General, National Biosafety Agency, Dr. Rufus Abegba, speaks on Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) and the challenges facing the agency in this interview with Idu Jude

What services do this agency render and has it got some challenges?
The agency is just six years old and there is no doubt that it has some challenges. However, the challenges are not permanent; they are surmountable. First, we lack a befitting office space and when I say that I mean a permanent office. We have challenge of inadequate funding and misunderstanding of the agency’s role in ensuring safety in the consumption of GMOs.

We also have issues with the civil society organisations (CSOs) who are trying to bring down the agency as far as biotechnology is concerned. I am sure that these CSOs understand the trend but some of them are deliberating trying to tarnish the image of the agency. Some who indulge in this have never taken their time to visit our agency and laboratories to see for themselves what we have. They are only interested in maligning the agency. Sometimes they argue that the government does not have a body to regulate the activities of biotechnology agencies or agric research agencies. But I tell you, these are all falsehoods.

You alleged that the CSOs are campaigning against the agency, what do you think they want?
There is a trade war going on between the agro-biochemical companies and the biosafety sector biotechnology. So, it is not that the civil societies do not understand the situation but they have an agenda. The agenda is that they do not want the GMOs because of those their business is being affected. So, these persons are funding them to achieve the purpose.

CSOs are important in a nation but when their actions are becoming malicious and they are casting aspersions on the integrity of an agency and its leaders, it is no longer fair. They should be fair to this country. Science and technology will continue to be the driver of change and development and nobody can stop it, especially as government has put up an initiative for safety measures such as the biosafety agency. They should learn to trust government. When a agency such as ours says that a certain food is safe, people should not create unnecessary doubts or try to mislead the citizens.

How is funding a problem when Nigeria is a signatory to international biosafety programme?
You will agree with me that economic crises are sweeping across the globe and Nigeria is not an exception. She is part and parcel of the comity of nations and the issue of funding is a global issue. Nigeria cannot divorced from the economy of the world. However, we are progressing, even with our limited resources pending when the economic crisis is over. But I can tell you that such is not peculiar to this agency.

Are you saying that genetic products can solve the problem of food scarcity in the future?
The population of Nigeria is projected to exceed that of United States of America (USA) by the year 2050. It is predicted that this could result in geopolitical and socio-economic crises such as shortage of food and agricultural land. In the face of this impending calamity, it is essential to take remediation steps to safeguard the survival of the future generations. One potential solution is to embrace modern agricultural biotechnology.

Yet, the design, development, and adoption of agricultural biotechnology in Nigeria have remained low due to socio-economic, ethical, health or political concerns. Besides, the slow rate of adoption and implementation of agricultural biotechnology can be ascribed to lack of knowledge, high costs, and inconsistent field performance. So, we need to prepare now even when advanced countries have gone far in providing alternatives for food crisis.

What is the relationship between your agency and other organisations under your watch? Can you testify of the products from them?
Our agency is a regulatory body; there are other agencies that do the job of promoting the products. There are also researchers and developers. The national biotechnological development agencies basically develop seeds and regulate that sector. Apart from that, there are other institutes that are involved in the research area of biotechnology. We have had to accredit those institutions who are into genetic engineering and other products for experimental purposes.

The ones we confirm are safe. Again, when a crop is bombarded with insecticides, such a crop can never make full potential. But with insect resistant, you discover that such crops attain full potential because under normal circumstances, those that are not genetically enhanced may not get up to maximum productivity but those that were genetically enhanced give full yield to 90/95 per cent full potential. Also, we have embraced the government idea of wanting better days for farmers so that they can lead normal lives like other Nigerians and educate their children. The rate at which our farmers are now; their labour does not translate into huge production. Nigeria has established the ministry of science and technology to drive that.

How does the exodus of Nigerian researchers to other countries affect the sector?
The issue of human capital flight has also become troublesome. Some say it is due to lack of job certification. Others attribute it to disenchantment. Sometimes you see that these scientists are just there. They spend years without coming out with any product. I think there is the need for every Nigerian to contribute to the growth of the country. We should not always wait on the Federal Government or the President alone.
My success here is the success of the government and my failure is the failure of government. When you say government, it does not mean an individual, it means an institution run by individuals. So, you and I are part of government. We need strong men that can drive the institutions.

But we believe your office has a lot to do in terms of economic growth?
My office is a driver of economic growth. We give a safe enablement to research institutes and companies to come out with innovations, to come out with modern biotechnology, and we ensure that these things are safe.

If Nigeria keys into the biotechnology project, where will the country be in the next 10 years?
If Nigerians should respond positively in the area of biotechnological research and innovation, we should not be talking of 10 years. I can tell you that within five to six years, we should be able to create up to 30,000 jobs for the teeming Nigerian youths. This is so because the job opportunities cut across all professions, ages and backgrounds. It has a value chain.

And I can tell you that the economy will diversify because the same modern technology will come up with raw materials, agricultural sector will grow, and the pharmaceutical companies will come up with more potent drugs. The research institutes will be effective at the value chain, while working with the various sectors.
The private sector will also go into research and development. I tell you Nigeria will be great for it.

What is your take on borrowing to run the economy? Do we have to borrow to import the same goods that we can produce?
I have said that with conviction and change of attitude by Nigerians, we can generate up to 30, 000 employment annually and GDP will also grow. Local and foreign companies will also spring up. And for the GMOs, we do not need to import again. We will depend on the ones produced locally. But what we are saying is that Nigerians do not even accept our products due to politics and propaganda by some people. We do not need to import or spend money importing any. Perhaps some importers are among those sabotaging our work.

We are going to stop Nigeria from importing any GMOs. It is a promise. The first step is for us to accept our own developed products at home. Let us talk of the apathy over GMOs

Yes, our own sensitisation is to enable Nigerians to know about the efficacy of the products as a regulatory agency. We are not really on the marketing side of the products. Ours is if there is an issue of safety, we step in and make sure that the people are well educated about the products. The idea is to give Nigerians the confidence. We don’t go out rightly to campaign.

There are other agencies like the national biotechnological organisation agency, under the ministry of agriculture, which performs extension services. They have their roles, to convince the people on how best the product can be for consumption.