A civil society organisation, Citizens Advocacy for Social and Economic Rights (CASER), has formally demanded verification of the academic and professional credentials of the Director-General of the National Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA), Bello Bwari, amid concerns over his eligibility for the position.
The request, made pursuant to the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act, was submitted to the Federal Ministry of Environment. CASER said the action was prompted by questions surrounding whether the current head of the biosafety agency meets the statutory requirements for the office.
According to the group, the NBMA Act stipulates that the director-general must possess at least a master’s degree in biological sciences or a related discipline. CASER noted that Bwari is publicly known as a legal practitioner, a background it argues may not align with the qualifications prescribed by law.
In its FOI application, the organisation called on the Minister of Environment, Balarabe Lawal, to publicly confirm the director-general’s academic and professional records, stressing that transparency in public appointments is critical to sustaining confidence in regulatory institutions.
CASER warned that failure to address the issue could undermine public trust in agencies charged with biosafety regulation, environmental protection, and biotechnology oversight. It added that the concern extends beyond a single appointment and highlights broader issues of compliance with enabling laws in public service.
Founder of CASER and human rights lawyer, Frank Tietie, also criticised what he described as the silence of the scientific community on the matter. In a recent opinion article, he argued that placing leadership of a biosafety agency in the hands of individuals without a strong scientific background could weaken effective regulation.
Tietie maintained that strict adherence to statutory provisions is non-negotiable, cautioning that disregarding legal requirements risks eroding accountability and institutional integrity.
