Lagos: The National Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA) outlined its vision for smart biosafety yesterday, Thursday, June 26, 2025, which involves integrating technologies such as QR codes, blockchain, and artificial intelligence into its processes.
Dr Ugo Onyekwelu, the South-West Zonal Controller of NBMA, said this in her presentation at the 11th Regional Food Science and Technology Summit in Lagos.
The summit, organised by the Nigeria Institute of Food Science and Technology (NIFST), had the theme: “Food for the Future: Shaping a Healthier and Stronger Nation Through Food Science and Technology”. It provided a platform for experts to discuss advancements in the food sector.
Onyekwelu said that integrating technologies into the regulation would help make more informed decisions, improve efficiency, and enhance transparency.
The zonal coordinator stated that there was an ongoing collaboration with National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) to develop relevant guidelines for the process.
She stated that while lab-grown foods were not yet approved in Nigeria, the NBMA’s biosecurity policy provides the mandate for their future regulation.
According to her, beyond biosafety, which focuses on the safe handling of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs), NBMA also regulates biosecurity.
“It addresses the intentional release of harmful pathogens and the misuse of microorganisms, citing Ebola and COVID-19 as examples of threats that biosecurity aims to prevent.
“The agency’s use of a single window system within the Nigerian trade portal for traceability and monitoring of GMO entry into the country enables the flagging of shipments and oversight of all GMO-related activities,” she said.
Onyekwelu also provided an overview of GMOs, defining them as plants, animals, or microorganisms with specific desirable traits that have been introduced through modern biotechnology.
She said that these traits often enhance characteristics such as herbicide tolerance, pest resistance, and resilience to environmental stresses, including drought and flooding.
Tracing the history of GMOs, she noted the development of the first recombinant DNA in 1973 and a significant milestone in 1982 when the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved human insulin (Humulin) as the first GMO.
Onyekwelu highlighted the traditional method of extracting insulin from animals, which required a large number of animal lives to sustain a single diabetic patient annually.
She said that the advent of genetically modified insulin, produced using microorganisms like Ecoli with the inserted human insulin gene, ensured a more readily available supply of the hormone due to the rapid growth of these microorganisms.
The first commercialised GMO food product, a tomato with an extended shelf life, was introduced in 1994, she added.
By the 1990s, various other GMO crops, including soybeans, canola, papayas, and squash, were commercialised, indicating that consumers had unknowingly consumed GMOs for over three decades.
Onyekwelu debunked the misconception that GMOs are created through chemical injections, clarifying that they are developed by modifying or introducing specific genes into plants.
She affirmed the safety of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) for consumption, stating that their application was strictly regulated in Nigeria.
The zonal controller listed the currently approved GMOs for commercial release and consumption in Nigeria as BT cotton, BT cowpea, and HT soybeans, urging the public to report any other claimed GMOs for verification.
Onyekwelu explained that several other food crops were undergoing confined field trials, as the regulatory process for GMOs was extensive, involving eight to ten years of rigorous scientific analysis.
According to her, it is to ensure the safety of human health, animals, and the environment.
Onyekwelu said that examples of crops under trial include African biofortified sorghum, aimed at increasing iron, zinc, and pro-vitamin content, and GM cassava, engineered for delayed post-harvest spoilage and resistance to the cassava mosaic virus.
Speaking on the establishment of the NBMA in April 2015, Onyekwelu said that the agency was established to establish a regulatory framework and administrative mechanisms for ensuring safety in the application of modern biotechnology in Nigeria.
She referred to the NBMA Act as the guiding document for all its operations.
Earlier, Mrs Taiwo Ubani, the Chairperson of the Local Organising Committee for the summit, spoke about the potential impact of emerging food technologies on regulatory bodies and the necessity of having regulatory and research templates in place.
Ubani pointed out the need for regulatory bodies to define criteria for regulating GMO foods and three-dimensional food printing.
Addressing health concerns related to GMO consumption, she emphasised the importance of moderation, citing biblical references.
She used cassava as an example, noting the health risks associated with high cyanide varieties.
She also highlights the modifications made by institutions like the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) to develop low-cyanide cassava for farmers.
Ubani acknowledged public speculations about potential health risks from GMOs but stated that there was no conclusive evidence linking them to specific diseases.
She also underscored the significance of proper food processing and preparation in mitigating potential adverse effects.
She mentioned the role of government through regulatory bodies like the NBMA in ensuring food safety and overseeing biotechnology applications.
Ubani affirmed that the Nigerian Institute of Food Science and Technology (NIFST) is actively building relationships and partnerships with various government agencies and ministries of agriculture.
