Time to Ban GMOs

Communique from the National Symposium on GMOs held on 01 September 2025 at Qualibest Grand Hotel, Utako, Abuja

Background

The National Symposium on GMOs (genetically modified organisms) was hosted by Health of Mother Earth Foundation(HOMEF), Environmental Rights Action and the GMO-Free Nigeria Alliance. The event which had more than 80 participants from government, academia, civil society, local farming communities, environmental groups, the private sector and the media, deliberated on the critical implications of the continued deployment of GMOs in Nigeria. Also, the event builds on the calls from millions of Nigerians against the use of GMOs and aims to recommend to government the way forward for food sovereignty in Nigeria.

Several GM crops (more than 25 varieties) have been approved for use in Nigeria for various reasons since 2015, when the government passed the National Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA) Act. This law was expanded in 2019 to include newer technologies like gene editing and synthetic biology. The introduction of GMOs without regard for public concerns coupled with the regulatory framework that enables it, constitutes a form of technological colonialism that undermines traditional farming practices, indigenous seed systems, and local food cultures that have sustained Nigerian communities for generations.

The symposium featured a presentation of research findings on the implications of GMOs on human and environmental health as well as discussions on the ethical, socio-economic and legal implications. The event concluded with a robust and enriching conversation on practical steps towards address agricultural challenges in the country and achieving food sovereignty.

During the extensive dialogue at the symposium, the following critical observations were made:

Nigeria is at a critical point where we must decide on the way forward for food sovereignty. We must decide which model of agriculture suits our context and meets our needs between industrial agriculture (dependent on GMOs and synthetic chemical inputs) powered by multinational corporations and an agroecological system powered by the local farmers who provide over 70% of our food.
Nigeria’s traditional agricultural practices, including seed selection, mixed cropping, crop rotation, and natural soil fertility management, have historically sustained food systems without external dependencies.The introduction of GMOs which thrive in monocultures is systematically displacing proven agricultural practices and undermining our food sovereignty.
GMOs represent a paradigm shift in agriculture; they are not just an option or solution. We must think beyond the mythical temporary relief that is imagined or promised and consider what long term impacts they portend.
BT Cotton, the first GMO crop officially introduced in Nigeria, after three years of planting has not shown any advantage over conventional varieties but rather has brought about soil degradation as reported by the Cotton Farmers Association in Nigeria in 2024.
Countries like Tanzania have achieved food security by over 128% through traditional and organic methods without GMOs, demonstrating viable alternatives for Nigeria.
Several scientific studies link the consumption of GMOs with birth defects, immune disorders, tumours and other diseases. The claims that there’s no research confirming negative impact of GMOs on human health is outrageous and simply false.
In Nigeria however, in spite of the intense controversy and examples of over 30 countries that have banned GMOs, the regulatory agency, NBMA has not conducted adequate, independent and long-term risk assessment before the approvals granted so far.
The cultivation of GMOs threatens serious biodiversity loss and creation of uncontrollable genetic mutations in plant varieties.
GMO technology creates seed monopolies that transfer right to seeds from farmers to multinational corporations.
Small-scale farmers, who constitute the majority of Nigeria’s agricultural workforce and who produce over 70% of Nigeria’s food are at high risk from the introduction of patented GM seeds with restrictions on saving and sharing.
Agroecology presents a viable solution to Nigeria’s food system challenges by ensuring increased productivity, soil fertility improvement and empowerment of local food producers.
We must decolonise our agricultural system through the preservation of our indigenous crop and animal varieties, our traditional knowledge and by taking control of our food be it in decision making, science or practice.

Call to Action

At the end of the symposium, the participants unanimously call on the Federal Government to:

Impose a moratorium on all new GMO approvals as extensive evidence exists to confirm their serious negative implications on human and environmental health as well as on our economy.
Review the National Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA) Act to include stronger safeguards, independent oversight, and meaningful public participation.
Address the issue of food loss as recent studies show that up to 40% of Nigeria’s food goes to waste due to lack of proper processing and storage facilities.
Strengthen agricultural infrastructure to reduce post-harvest losses and improve food distribution.
Support small-scale farmers through improved access to land, credit, markets, extension service and non-GMO seeds.
Revive and support the Nigerian agricultural extension service system.
Address root causes of food insecurity including terrorism, poor infrastructure, inequalities and market inefficiencies.
Invest massively in agroecology and traditional farming systems that have proven effective and sustain-able.
The Federal Ministry of Agriculture should promote and actualise the set up of seed banks and gene banks at Local Government and state levels to ensure the preservation of Nigeria’s genetic resources.

We call on regulatory agencies to:

Prioritize public health over commercial interests in all regulatory decisions.
Ensure rigorous testing of all GMO products with transparent reporting of results.
Implement robust monitoring systems to track long-term effects of approved GMOs.
Engage meaningfully with civil society, farmers, independent scientists and other stakeholders in decision-making processes.

We call on the National Assembly to:

Amend the NBMA Act 2015 to enforce stronger democratic oversight and precautionary measures.
Pass a comprehensive legislation requiring mandatory suspension of GMOs and strict liability for damages.
Appropriate adequate funding for independent research on healthy, inclusive and sustain-able agriculture alternatives,.
Establish parliamentary oversight on GMO regulation and approval processes.

We call on Nigerian Citizens to: