The Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control(NAFDAC), Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, has assured Nigerians that genetically modified organisms(GMOs) in food are not harmful to human health, if appropriate safety protocols are followed.
But she advised that clear and proper labelling of GMO food products must be done to ensure that consumers are fully aware of what they are buying and eating.
Adeyeye said this in an interview on a national television programme amid growing concerns from the public over the safety of genetically engineered foods sold in markets across Nigeria.
“Genetically modified organisms are not bad for us, depending on what type of foods they are and whether or not safety considerations have been taken,” she said. “What is important is proper labelling and strict regulation to ensure that these foods meet safety and quality standards.”
The NAFDAC boss, a professor of pharmaceutics, explained that while the agency is responsible for regulating food quality and safety in the country, it works closely with the National Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA), which is primarily charged with ensuring the environmental and health safety of GMO products.
“We have a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the NBMA. Without their certification and clearance, NAFDAC will not approve any genetically modified product for the Nigerian market,” she said.
Adeyeye, who described herself as a “food freak,” emphasised the importance of consumer awareness, stressing that reading food labels should become a second nature for health-conscious Nigerians.
“I always check labels. I want to know what I’m eating will result in a good health outcome. Even before my time at NAFDAC, while shopping outside the country, I always looked for labels indicating whether or not a product was genetically modified,” she added.
According to her, labelling should be clear enough to help consumers make informed decisions.
“When you go to grocery stores, you see some items labelled ‘organic.’ Those that are not organic should also be labelled appropriately. Consumers deserve that choice,” Adeyeye added.
The NAFDAC DG explained that while the agency’s primary mandate is to ensure food and drug safety at the federal level, state governments also have a role to play in monitoring markets and enforcing local food safety regulations.
“But from the regulatory point of view, once a product is approved by NAFDAC, we assure Nigerians that it is safe, of good quality, and fit for consumption,” she said.
Adeyeye also assured Nigerians that NAFDAC would continue to work in synergy with other regulatory bodies to ensure that all foods, including those with GMO content, are subjected to rigorous assessments before being cleared for the market.
“Our collaboration with the NBMA is solid. They must do their due diligence, either through laboratory tests or desk reviews, and until we get their go-ahead, we do not approve such products,” she said.
Also, the Director-General of the National Biotechnology Research and Development Agency (NBRDA), Prof. Abdullahi Mustapha, has allayed fears surrounding genetically modified foods.
At a sensitisation workshop for members of the House of Representatives Press Corps in Abuja last month, Mustapha explained that GMO crops are critical to addressing Nigeria’s food security challenges and increasing agricultural yields.
“In today’s digital age, the distortion of facts has become a major barrier to the acceptance of science,” he said.
