ibironkeeniola 
The National Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with NAFDAC and other crucial agencies and ministries, to guarantee the safety of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) imported into the country.
Director-General of the agency, Dr. Rufus Ebegba who made the disclosure in Abuja said, “As part of our collaboration with other ministries and agencies, We have signed Memorandum of Understanding with NAFDAC, with Nigerian customs service, Nigerian Agricultural Quarantine Service, Nigerian Seed Council, and even the Varietal release committee which approves all new varieties of agricultural plants.
“We have also signed MoU with some departments in the Ministry of Agriculture and also Standard Organization of Nigeria. All these with a view of creating synergy and to ensure all the sectors of government key into this national biosafety system.” he added.
The agency also revealed that it is partnering with the Nigeria Customs Service on border regulation of GMO. “There is a point of convergence like the Nigeria Customs Service, which is the major border agency in Nigeria. So to help the agency to ensure only GMOs that we have confirmed safe that are brought into the country,” Ebegba said.
The DG also stated that the agency had regular meetings to sensitize superstores of genetically modified foods, on the importance of ensuring biosafety permitted on products that contain genetically modified ingredients.
According to him, Nigeria has one of the best biosafety systems in Africa, which was evident in Nigeria chairing the African Biosafety Regulators Forum. He also declared that Nigeria has a National Biosafety System that can safeguard its citizens from any potential harm of modern biotechnology.
SOURCE: AGRONIGERIA