FEC approves revised national biotechnology policy 2026

The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved the revised National Biotechnology Policy 2026, providing an updated framework for harnessing biotechnology for Nigeria’s economic and national development.

The statement announcing the approval was signed by Toyin Omozuwa, Press Secretary of the National Biotechnology Research and Development Agency (NBRDA), in Abuja.

The approval was given at Wednesday’s FEC meeting, presided over by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and marks an update of Nigeria’s 2001 biotechnology policy, 25 years after its initial adoption.

The revised policy provides a framework for biotechnology research, development, application and commercialisation across key sectors, including agriculture, healthcare, industrial production and environmental sustainability.

It also provides policy direction for emerging technologies such as precision agriculture, climate-smart technologies, advanced manufacturing, gene editing and genomics.

According to the NBRDA, the approval also includes the Nigeria Biotechnology Partnership, which formalises Nigeria’s participation in the Global Biotechnology Partnership and is expected to strengthen the country’s access to international collaboration and investment.

The Director-General of NBRDA, Prof. Abdullahi Mustapha, described the approval as an important milestone in Nigeria’s biotechnology development.

He said the policy would provide the direction needed to strengthen biotechnology research, promote technology transfer and commercialisation, attract investment and expand the sector’s contribution to national development.

“This approval marks an important chapter in Nigeria’s biotechnology development. It provides the policy direction required to promote innovation, technology transfer and commercialisation, attract investment and expand the contribution of biotechnology to national development,” Mustapha said.

He said NBRDA would continue to collaborate with relevant government institutions, research organisations, universities, industry and other stakeholders to ensure effective implementation of the policy.

Mustapha added that the agency would work to translate the policy’s provisions into technologies, products and services capable of addressing national challenges and creating economic opportunities.

He commended President Tinubu for his leadership and commitment to advancing innovation, science and technology, noting that the approval demonstrated the administration’s recognition of biotechnology as an important tool for national development.

The NBRDA Director-General also expressed appreciation to the Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Dr Kingsley Tochukwu Udeh, SAN, for his dedication and sustained support for the advancement of biotechnology in Nigeria.