Environment group faults FG over commercial release of genetically modified TELA maize

The Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF) has faulted the Federal Government for its decision to approve the open cultivation and commercial release of TELA maize which is said to be a transgenic insect-resistant and drought-tolerant variety along with other “high-yielding crop varieties.”

The approval took place on January 11, at a time when Mexico, the centre of origin of TELA maize has halted the cultivation of genetically modified (GM) corn to preserve local and more nutritious varieties.

The Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Chief Uche Nnaji, at a press conference held in Abuja recently, said the commercial release of the crop was a step at enhancing agricultural productivity to ensure food sufficiency in Nigeria.

However, HOMEF, while commending the intention of the Federal Government to address food insufficiency in Nigeria, expressed disappointment over the release of the genetically-modified varieties.

HOMEF noted that there was no evidence of a risk assessment conducted before the release of TELA maize on either the website of the National Biosafety Management Agency, the agency saddled with the responsibility of regulating the uses of GMOs, or the Biosafety Clearing House of the United Nations Convention on Biodiversity where parties are expected to upload updates on their decisions/use of GMOs.

GMO which is short for “genetically modified organism” is a plant or animal in which one or more changes have been made to the genome, typically using high-tech genetic engineering, in an attempt to alter the characteristics of an organism.

According to the Executive Director of HOMEF, Nnimmo Bassey, “It is totally unacceptable that in the name of food sufficiency, the country is exposing its citizens to products of risky technologies without adequate, independent and/or long-term assessment on their impacts on human and environmental health. There are many challenges associated with genetic modification crops that we cannot deny.

“So far, GMOs have been linked to cancers, diseases, allergies, and all sorts of health challenges due to environmental implications because of their dependency on toxic pesticides and the destruction of biodiversity and nutritional diversity.

“We are also concerned that there is no way to label or inform our farmers that they are planting GMO maize. To deny Nigerians the right of choice is highly objectionable and wicked.”

He added that, “It is expedient that the government conducts independent long-term feeding tests and environmental/biodiversity assessments before any GM crop is approved for use and not merely testing to confirm productivity or performance.”

Bassey charged the Nigerian government to understand the difficulties of recalling genetically modified living organisms and to quickly withdraw the TELA maize.