Thousands of stakeholders, including farmers, civil society organizations (CSOs), scientists, nutritionists, lawyers, medical practitioners, women, and youth groups, staged rallies across 10 Nigerian states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) on Friday.
The demonstrators called on the government to ban genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in food production and to prioritize agroecology for food sovereignty and climate resilience.
Organized by the Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF) and the GMO-Free Nigeria Alliance, the rallies took place in Rivers, Edo, Katsina, Plateau, Oyo, Lagos, Cross River, Enugu, Jigawa, and the FCT. Advocacy visits were made to state government offices and relevant ministries to highlight the risks of GMOs and advocate for sustainable alternatives.
Concerns Over GMO Impacts
Nnimmo Bassey, Executive Director of HOMEF, argued that GMOs are not the solution to Nigeria’s food insecurity. “These crops promote dependency on corporate seed supply, undermining local economic growth,” he said. Bassey pointed to reports from the National Cotton Association of Nigeria, which found no significant yield increases with GM cotton seeds over local varieties after four years. Farmers have also reported biodiversity loss and soil degradation on GM-planted lands.
Bassey criticized the inability of farmers to replant GM seeds due to declining yields, forcing them to repurchase seeds each season. “This reflects neo-colonialism and corporate capture of our food system,” he added.
Regulatory Gaps and Labelling Issues
Barrister Ifeanyi Nwankwere, National Coordinator of the GMO-Free Nigeria Alliance, highlighted flaws in Nigeria’s biosafety regulatory system, including the absence of strict liability provisions, inadequate public participation, and a lack of precautionary measures. He also noted that GMOs in Nigeria are not properly labeled, posing challenges for consumers in informal markets.
“The composition of the National Biosafety Management Agency’s board raises concerns, as it includes GMO promoters such as the National Biotechnology Development and Research Agency (NABDA), which compromises impartiality,” Nwankwere added.
Global Context and Health Risks
Mariann Bassey-Orovwuje, Deputy Director of Environmental Rights Action, emphasized that several countries, including Russia, Mexico, and Uganda, have banned or restricted GMOs. She cited Mexico’s ban on GMO corn, which protects the country’s biodiversity, and South Africa’s legal victory against Monsanto’s GMO maize over safety concerns.
Health risks were also spotlighted by HOMEF’s Director of Programmes, who revealed that over 50 imported packaged foods in Nigerian markets contain GM ingredients. A survey by HOMEF conducted between 2018 and 2023 found GM products in cereals, oils, spices, and other items. Studies, including a recent Iranian report, link GMOs to liver and kidney damage in medium-term feeding tests, but Nigeria’s regulatory agency has yet to conduct such tests.
Demands for Change
The protesters called for:
- A nationwide ban on GMOs and GMO-containing products.
- Revocation of all existing GMO permits due to insufficient risk assessments.
- Increased investment in agroecology to ensure food security, sovereignty, and economic growth.
The rallies underscored the growing resistance to GMOs in Nigeria and the push for sustainable agricultural practices to protect the environment, health, and local livelihoods.
