A coalition of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) led by Peace Point Development Foundation (PPDF) has called on the Nigerian government to completely ban the use of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs).
The group staged a walk around Calabar on Tuesday and presented a petition to the Cross River State House of Assembly, highlighting concerns about GMOs’ impact on human health, the environment, and food sovereignty.
GMOs are plants, animals, or microorganisms whose genetic material has been altered using genetic engineering. The long-term health impacts of GMOs remain subjects of ongoing scientific research and debate.
Mr Umo Isua-Ikoh, Executive Director of PPDF, spoke on behalf of the coalition, demanding immediate action from both the federal government and Cross River State to ban GMOs for planting and food production.
Isua-Ikoh further called for the removal of bioengineered food products from Nigerian and Cross River markets.
He also urged the annulment of all GMO permits granted without adequate risk assessments.
He also advocated increased investment in sustainable farming practices like agroecology and organic farming to ensure food sovereignty.
Mr Augustine Ukukong, Assistant Director of Legislative Matters, received the petition on behalf of Mr Agbor Ovat, Chairman of the House Committee on Environment and Sanitation.
Ukukong assured the group that their petition would be delivered to the House, and if necessary, the committee would address the issue, including introducing a bill for consideration.
He reiterated the 10th Assembly’s commitment to collaborating with CSOs on issues related to environmental protection and public health.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the petition is part of a nationwide campaign led by the Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF) to protect Nigeria’s food system from the perceived risks of GMOs.
