Civil society organisations have called for a comprehensive review of genetically modified organism (GMO) approvals in Nigeria, urging the Federal Government to adopt agroecology as the foundation of its food security strategy amid growing debates over food sovereignty, public health, and environmental sustainability.
The call was made at a media training on biodiversity and agroecology in Nigeria themed “Nigeria’s Food Future,” organised by the Home of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF) and partners, where participants questioned the expanding use of genetically modified crops and advocated stronger biosafety regulation.
Executive Director of HOMEF, Nnimmo Bassey, warned against what he described as increasing corporate control over Nigeria’s food system, insisting that agricultural policy must prioritise local farmers and indigenous knowledge systems.
He noted that smallholder farmers account for more than 80 per cent of food production in the country, yet face rising pressure from proprietary seed regimes and biotechnology-driven agriculture.
“Smallholder farmers produce more than 80 per cent of the food consumed in Nigeria, yet there are strong vested interests trying to increase dependency on patented seeds and corporate-controlled technology. This is why we describe it as food colonialism,” Bassey said.
He also questioned the integrity of Nigeria’s biosafety governance framework, calling for greater transparency in the approval processes for genetically modified crops.
“The question is, who is really in charge? If another agency can approve GMOs outside the established regulatory process, where are we in terms of biosafety?” he asked.
Bassey argued that agroecology, which emphasises biodiversity, ecological balance and indigenous farming practices, offers a more sustainable pathway to food security while safeguarding rural livelihoods and ecosystems.
Public health expert, Dr Ifeanyi Casmir, said national discussions on food security must go beyond availability to include food safety and food sovereignty.
He warned that excessive reliance on genetically modified crops could introduce health uncertainties, including potential allergic reactions linked to altered crop compositions.
Casmir also raised concerns that proprietary seed systems could marginalise smallholder farmers and weaken local food production structures.
“If you take away control and make access to seeds very difficult and cost-prohibitive, you have destroyed our food system. Smallholder farmers are the people who feed the world, and they must not be pushed aside through proprietary control of staple crops,” he said.
He further cautioned that chemical inputs associated with some GMO farming systems, including herbicides and pesticides, could pose environmental and health risks if not properly regulated.
Executive Director of the Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA), Akinbode Oluwafemi, urged the government to adopt the precautionary principle in decisions relating to genetically modified crops.
He said several countries continue to exercise caution due to unresolved global concerns about GMO safety and long-term impacts.
“There have been global concerns about the health implications of genetically modified organisms across the world, and many countries are taking precautionary steps. We do not want the Nigerian government to open our food system to issues of concern,” Oluwafemi said.
He stressed the need to protect indigenous seeds and traditional farming systems, describing food systems as integral to cultural identity and national heritage.
“Local farmers are responsible for over 80 per cent of the food we consume in Nigeria. There is an attempt to take over our food chain and food system by corporations outside our shores,” he said.
Presenting a communiqué from the training, CAPPA Associate Director, Ogunlade Olamide Martins, said participants called for a full review of GMO approvals and biosafety governance in Nigeria.
He added that stakeholders demanded greater transparency, public participation and independent scientific evaluation in biosafety decision-making processes.
Participants also recommended a suspension of new GMO approvals pending long-term, independent and peer-reviewed assessments covering health, environmental, agricultural performance and socio-economic impacts.
The communiqué further urged government to strengthen legal protections for farmers’ rights to save, exchange and reuse indigenous seeds, while increasing investment in agroecological research, innovation and farmer training.
In her closing remarks, HOMEF Programme Director, Joyce Brown, said Nigeria faces a critical policy choice in addressing food insecurity and climate challenges.
She noted that while agroecology is being promoted by some stakeholders, others continue to advocate for biotechnology-driven agriculture.
“We are at a crossroads in Nigeria and largely in Africa as to which pathway we need to take in responding to food insecurity and climate change challenges. We are advocating for a concrete decision. We can’t be on the fence,” she said.
The organisations maintained that efforts to boost food production must not compromise biodiversity, farmers’ rights, or long-term environmental sustainability.
