Amendment to Bio -Safety Act suffers major setback as stakeholders reject proposal 

***Sponsor, Yahaya Abdullahi shuns  hearing 

A Proposed amendment to National Bio – Safety Management Agency Act has suffered a major setback as all relevant stakeholders in the environment sector vehemently opposed it during public hearing on a bill sponsored to that effect by the former Senate Leader , Senator Yahaya Abdullahi (PDP Kebbi North).

The Public hearing which was organised by the Senate Committee on Environment held Wednesday at the National Assembly was shunned by the sponsor of the amendment bill, Yahaya Abdullahi

Abdullahi had in the bill sought for strict regulation on foods that are genetically modified in preventing inherent health hazards .

He specifically sought for labelling of genetically modified foods in the country for consumers to know the difference between them and natural ones and recommended sanctions against violation of the proposed law.

But all the stakeholders in the bio – safety sector who were in attendance rejected the proposed legislation in the separate submissions made.

Professor Celestine Aguoru lecturer and research scientist, environmental consultant from University of Agriculture Makurdi said there is nothing wrong with the original bill what is wrong is the amendment they are proposing.

He warned that people should not propose amendment to any bill they lack requisite Knowledge on.

“Biosafety concerns regulation of the products of modern Biotechnology not Biodiversity as a whole. Every person who wants to talk about that would have to understand the reason for that not just to walk around and talk about biodiversity generally. 

“The moment you do that you will conflict the work of the National Center for Disease Control which looks at the safety of the things that come from Micro organisms which is part of Biodiversity. 

“Those that proposed the amendment do not understand that fact so they need to understand the concept of modern Biotechnology which is genetic engineering and also know the concept of regulation of the safety of such Products. 

“They should be able to know what is achievable in the science of genetic engineering. Whoever that is proposing an amendment to a bill should have the basic knowledge. If you don’t have the knowledge then don’t talk about it.

“What they are invariably proposing is that scientists don’t have to practice the science of genetic engineering in Nigeria, they telling us go and practice it elsewhere then bring the product when it becomes perfect according to their own thinking to Nigeria 

“It is not done anywhere, even the maize we are eating today was not like that originally. It went through breeding, today we have plants that bear fruits, if you look at the palm tree we have the short one now, not like the old breed that used to be very tall and takes decades to mature.

“If this proposed amendment is carried out you tie our hands, it means you are dying Scientist should no longer carryout research in the area of genetic engineering, we will relocate to environments that permit us to carryout our research and that will become unpatriotic. 

“That will lead to Nigeria not advancing in science and that will lead to a major brain drain, we already have that on ground and today you are proposing a law that will drive out the remaining people. Whoever that does that is not helping the country and it is unpatriotic. That amendment is not necessary

The Director General of National Bio – Technology Development Agency ( NABDA), Professor Abdullahi Mustapha said the proposed amendment was unnecessary .

According to him , NABDA in particular and other relevant agencies have been carrying out the regulation being sought for in preventing consumption of toxic chemicals by Nigerians .

“There is no reason, there is no justification for the proposed legislation as NABDA has made significant achievements on Agriculture and Vaccines production towards checkmating consumption of toxic chemicals from modified foods and addressing the problem of insecurity .

“It is on this achievement that President Muhammadu Buhari assented to the bill now Act , making NABDA to embark on wide range of research work and accessing international grants for its scientifically and technologically driven  bio – technology development”, he said .

The President of All Farmers Association in Nigeria ( AFAN) , Architect Kabiru Ibrahim also kicked against the bill by saying that Nigerian farmers are up to the task of providing food sufficiency in the country .

Dismantling the proposed legislation from legal angle, the Executive Director of Citizens Advocacy for Social and Economic Rights , Barrister Frank Tiete, said accepting the proposal will be tantamount to violation of treaty entered into by Nigeria through the existing Act with 172 other countries across the globe .

“No need for amendment of the extant law since Nigeria it is also domesticated in 172 other countries in the world.

“The proposed legislation is a very bad one that must be thrown into the trash can “, he said .

Even members of the committee from the Vice Chairman, Senator Hassan Hadeijia (APC Jigawa North East) who acted as Chairman in absence of Senator Ike Ekweremadu who is standing trial in London to the ordinary members like Senator Nnachi Michael (PDP Ebonyi South) etc , kicked against the bill by saying that preponderance of views on the bill , will decide its fate.