HOMEFActivists Criticize Nigeria's GMO Regulation
Environmental activist Nnimmo Bassey and public health scientist Joyce Brown, both with Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF), have questioned the transparency and effectiveness of Nigeria's biosafety regulator, the National Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA). In a joint statement to PREMIUM TIMES on March 9, 2026, they argued the NBMA's oversight framework has failed to address fundamental safety, environmental impact, and economic concerns regarding GMOs in Nigeria's food system. The activists highlighted the absence of publicly available peer-reviewed risk assessments for approved GMO products, raising doubts about biosafety oversight. They warned Nigeria risks becoming a 'laboratory' where citizens unknowingly consume genetically engineered foods. Critics also questioned the economic motivations behind GMO adoption, citing Bt cotton farmers' reports of soil degradation and lower yields compared to conventional varieties. The activists called for a moratorium on new GMO approvals until independent reviews are conducted, stronger investment in agroecology, and mandatory labelling of GMO foods.