Prof. Ishiyaku Muhammed, Former Executive Director of the Institute for Agricultural Research, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, has defended the adoption of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in Nigeria, insisting they are safe and fully under local control.
Speaking in an interview on ARISE News, Muhammed explained that Nigeria’s regulatory framework and scientific processes guarantee safety, stressing that GMOs have been in use globally for decades.
“This safety is not on emotional basis. It is on science-based facts of around 30 years of the use of genetically modified crops and their products the world over, including Nigeria. We just released genetically modified cowpeas, maize, and cotton in this country.”
He further declared, “The GM technology which produces improved varieties of crops… can utilize this technology to improve the productivity of our crops and thereby closing the gaps of our national demand deficit.”
On public fears that GMOs could cause cancer, he dismissed such claims saying:
“There is nowhere in any literature, any scientifically proven point that there’s association between consumption of genetically modified crop products with development of cancer. I’m not a medical scientist, I’m not a human pathologist, but there is none, there is none, nowhere.”
Muhammed also addressed concerns about sovereignty and seed ownership.
“Nigeria is one of the few countries in the world that has absolute control over its genetic materials in the country. So let nobody ever think that any time will come either now or in the future that anybody, either corporate or individuals will take over the control of our genetic materials and our planting materials.”
On farmer acceptance, he noted that demand is already growing.
“I would like to assure you that farmers are now looking for the seeds of these varieties we have developed and we have difficulty in coping up with the multiplication, the rate of the multiplication to spread across.”
He added that the improved varieties significantly reduce costs for farmers. “Conventional cowpeas requires around eight sprays of insecticides, while this new variety can do as good as if it has been sprayed eight times with only two sprays of chemical insecticides. It is on that basis that farmers are looking for it.”
The former IAR director stressed that labeling provisions exist for consumers to make informed choices.
“As for labeling, whether a Moi Moi that is being prepared is from GM or from a non-GM, something that Nigerians are entitled to know by law, it should be labeled. There’s no problem. There’s a provision for labeling.”
On seed ownership, he clarified that Nigerian farmers remain in control. “Farmers can replant their seed once they buy or they get from a research institute, they can continue to plant it. What they will not do is to grow this seed and go and sell it in the name of that original seed… All the seeds we give to farmers to plant, it is their own. They can plant and replant and replant and replant if they so wish.”
Muhammed further emphasised that his research is funded by Nigeria, not foreign corporations.
“I’m being funded by Nigerian government. My salary is being paid by Nigerian government. The federal minister of agriculture through my university is sponsoring our work.”
He concluded by reaffirming both the safety and economic importance of GMOs: “I am sitting here not only as a scientist, but also as a Nigerian who has his families that these products are safe, not only safe, but they have a very high economic potential in ameliorating the ravages of our agricultural system in the country.”
Faridah Abdulkadiri
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