A consortium of farmers, environmentalists and civil society groups have urged the National Bio-safety Management Agency (NABMA) to halt approval for the commercial introduction of Genetically Modified (GM) maize and cotton in the country. This is coming in sn age where most people are appreciating more natural food for their bodies.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Monsanto Agricultural Nigeria Limited has applied to the NABMA for a field trial of two varieties of GM maize varieties in multiple locations in Nigeria.
NAN further gathered that the Agric Company is also seeking approvals for the environmental release and placing in the market in Zaria and surrounding towns of GM cotton.
Mr Nnimmo Bassey, an Environmentalist, in a statement issued on Monday said that over 100 groups are opposing attempts to introduce GM cotton and maize into Nigeria's food and farming systems.
The consortium, according to the statement, is representing over 5 million Nigerians, comprising of farmers, faith-based organisations, civil society groups, students and local community groups.
It stated that in a petition submitted to NABMA, the groups have cited numerous serious health and environmental concerns and the failure of these crops especially GM cotton in Africa, adding that the application is ill timed shortly after the dismal failures of such cotton in Burkina Faso.
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