A group of experts in agriculture and policy has raised concerns about the potential dangers of gene-edited seeds, warning that they could compromise Nigeria’s food security and sovereignty. The experts, who addressed a press conference in Abuja, urged the National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, to investigate the issue and take necessary action to protect the country’s interests.
Israel James, Country Director of Project Sprint, noted that gene editing, achieved through Genetically Modified Organism (GMO) foods, is a war tool that poses a greater threat than nuclear weapons. “If we don’t secure our food basket regions, foreign actors will control our government through hunger,” he warned.
Dr. Segun Adebayo, Deputy Director of the Centre for Food Safety and Agricultural Research (CEFSAR), argued that GMO seeds can create dependency and allow foreign actors to exert undue influence over Nigeria’s food systems. “It is like inviting a visitor who gradually takes over your home. If foreign corporations control our seeds, they can dictate terms for Nigeria. We must audit our policies and prioritise food sovereignty,” he said.
Adebayo also advocated for a ban on gene editing and increased budgetary allocation to agriculture to reduce dependence on foreign donors. Ambassador Michael Nwabufo of Centre for African Policy Research and Advisory (CAPRA) warned against the adoption of GMO seeds, stating that they threaten the DNA and food sovereignty of future generations.
