Regulation
By Ebere Agozie
Abuja, March 26, 2018 (NAN) The African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF), has commended the National Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA) for setting the pace in the regulation of modern biotechnology in Africa.
Dr Issoufou Kollo, the leader of the delegation and Head AATF West Africa, gave the commendation when he paid a courtesy visit to the agency on Monday in Abuja.
According to him, the NBMA has registered Nigeria’s preparedness to deploy biotechnology in a safe and responsible manner.
Kollo said that the continent had benefited immensely from the NBMA’s decision to play by the rules to ensure the practice of modern biotechnology posed no harm to human health and the environment.
“We have followed the activities of this agency since its creation and we are proud to be associated with it.
“It has not only set the standard in Africa but has also shown that Nigeria has put in the necessary safe guards in place for the deployment of modern biotechnology,” he said.
Earlier, Dr Rufus Ebegba, the Director-General of NBMA informed the delegation of the modest achievements of the agency since its creation.
Ebegba listed the achievements to include the granting of four permits for confined field trials and one for commercial release and capacity building for its members of staff.
He also informed his visitors of the establishment of the state-of-the-art GM Detection and Analysis Laboratory by the agency for the purpose of detection and analysis of GMOs in foods or crops. (NAN)
EPA/GOM/EEE
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Edited by Gregory Mmaduakolam/Ese E. Ekama