•House of Representatives
The House of Representatives Committee on Science and Technology has called on the National Biotechnology Development Agency (NABDA) to ensure clear and transparent labeling of all Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) products in accordance with global best practices.
The call was made during a budget defense session yesterday, where NABDA’s Director General, Prof. Abdullahi Mustapha, addressed the committee, reports Daily Independent.
In response to questions raised by lawmakers, Prof. Mustapha defended the use of GMOs, arguing that many food products from international markets, including cereals imported from the United States, already contain GMOs without clear labeling.
He stated, “90 percent of maize in the US is genetically modified,” adding that the perception of widespread rejection in Nigeria is overstated, as not all Nigerians share the same view.
However, Hon. Awaji-Inombek Abiante, a member of the panel, emphasised the importance of clear labelling for genetically modified products arguing that proper labeling would empower Nigerians to make informed choices about what they consume.
“In more advanced environments, there are multiple options available, but here in Nigeria, we don’t categorize them clearly. There are concerns surrounding Tela Maize, which raises a critical point: more research is needed before its full-scale adoption.
“By presenting this to Nigerians, we are offering them something they might not choose to consume if they were fully informed, yet efforts are being made to justify it,” he stated.
Earlier, the Director-General (DG) informed the committee that the agency’s proposed budget for the 2025 fiscal year stands at N5.3 billion.
According to him, this amount includes N834.4 million allocated for overhead costs and N14.5 million for personnel expenses.
The DG further disclosed that the agency currently employs a staff of approximately 4,000, distributed across its 39 centers nationwide.
