Agency takes sensitisation on biosafety to Nasarawa

By Peter Ugah, Lafia

The National Biosafety Management Agency, NBMA, has organised a sensitisations workshop for journalists and other residents of Nasarawa state.

ROYAL NEWS gathered that the move was aimed at enhancing the awareness of members of the public on biosafety methods with regards to genetically modified organisms in the country,

The was stated at a one-day sensitisation workshop in Lafia, on Thursday, by the Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of the agency, Dr. Rufus Ebegba.

He further explained that the programe was also meant to update the general public on the activities of the federal government in the area of biosafety management in the country with regards to genetically modified organisms.

According to him, “the agency was established by an act of parliament in 2015 to create and implement a regulatory framework for the safe practice of modern biotechnology in the country. We have put in place regulations, guidelines and policies to ensure that products of modern biotechnology were deployed safety in the country.

The Director General further revealed that, as part of efforts to expand monitoring and surveillance, the agency had signed various Memorandum of Understanding, MoUs with sister agencies such as the Standard Organisation of Nigeria, Nigeria Agricultural Quarantine Service and the Nigerian Customs Service, among other stakeholders.

Ebegba pointed out that, in recognition of the huge potentials associated with modern biotechnology applications, the federal government established the National Biotechnology Development Agency and other universities and institutions involved in the promotion, development and deployment of products of modern biotechnology for the development of the agricultural environmental, industrial sectors and medicine.

“The agency (NBMA) has a responsibility towards the safety of Nigerians, the environment, the realization of government objectives in the diversification of the Nigerian economy towards the actualisation of green economy and the economic prosperity of Nigeria”.