The National Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA) has said the concerns expressed by Nigerians over the approval and launch of TELA maize was not necessary, assuring Nigerians that the varieties are safe for consumption.
In a statement in Abuja, the Agency’s Head Information and Public Relations, Gloria Ogbaki, said, “We take into serious cognisance the concerns of Nigerians as maize is a staple crop and of great importance to the country.
“We understand that there has been misinformation circulating about the recently approved TELA Maize in Nigeria. It is our commitment to ensure transparency, safety, and unbiased decision-making regarding Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs).
“We wish to state here that the safety and health of Nigerians is of topmost priority and we will not compromise on this. We have done a proper risk assessment and analysis is conducted to ensure the safety of this product for human health and the environment,” it added.
It further explained, that the application for TELA Maize was thoroughly examined by two committees, comprising experts and scientists from the various relevant agencies and the academia, namely National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Nigerian Agricultural Quarantine Service (NAQS), Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), National Agricultural Seed Council (NASCs), universities, research institutions among others.
“These professionals in the different fields and our internal review process equally confirmed that TELA Maize meets safety standards to ensure that the regulatory oversight of GMOs by NBMA meets strict safety standards and will pose no adverse risks to health or the environment.”
