News

CSOs Rally Against GMOs In Edo, Expose Their Dangers, Want A Ban

Published

9 months ago

December 13, 2024

Joseph Ebi Kanjo| Benin

The Nigerian government has been called upon to ban Genetically Modified Organism (GMO) foods, support and promote Agroecology, saying it is the viable alternative for food sovereignty and climate resilience in the country.

Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF) made the call during an awareness campaign held in Benin City on Friday in collaboration with Edo Civil Society Organisations (EDOCSO).

The GMO-free Nigeria awareness campaign which was held across 10 states of the federation, took the campaigners in Benin City to the state House of Assembly, Government House, and the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security where they submitted their petitions.

The campaigners in their large numbers carried placards with inscriptions as: ‘Food should not be grown in a Lab;’ ‘support small scale farmers;’ ‘GMOs have to go #BanGMOs;’ ‘What we eat must not eat us;’ ‘I will not be genetically modified;’ ‘We Nigerians reject GMOs;’ ‘GMO-free Nigeria’, among others.

Speaking, Executive Director, HOMEF, Dr. Nnimmo Bassey, who was unavoidably absent said in a statement that Nigeria does not need GMOs to address food insecurity.

He stressed that the design of those crops does not support local economic growth but promote dependency on corporate seed supply.

Bassey explained further: “In September 2024, the National Cotton Association of Nigeria (NACOTAN) were reported to have said that they did not record any significant increase in their yields compared to the local seed varieties but instead, since the introduction of GM cotton seeds over 4 years ago, yield per hectare has remained about the same.

“Also, the farmers noted that no other plant has been able to germinate on the farmlands where the GM seeds were planted, even after four years – confirming the concerns regarding loss of biodiversity and soil degradation due to release of genetic material (proteins) into the soil which would not ordinarily occur.”

Bassey further decried the fact that farmers are not able to replant the GM seeds after harvest due to declining yields.

“They are encouraged to continuously purchase the seeds every new season from corporate entities.

“This reflects neo-colonialism and corporate capture of our food system -something we shouldn’t take lightly,” he added.

Also lending his voice through a statement, Barr. Ifeanyi Nwankwere, National Co-coordinator of GMO-Free Nigeria Alliance, noted that GMOs approved in Nigeria, so far are not currently being labelled, adding that Nigeria’s socio-economic context would not allow labelling to be effective considering how food is sold in cups and basins in open markets where majority of Nigerians shop from.

Nwankwere noted that the biosafety regulatory system in Nigeria is not designed in a way that assures safety with regard to GMOs.

On the National Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA) Act, Nwankwere noted that the Act has fundamental flaws including the lack of provision on strict liability, lack of adequate provision on the Precautionary Principle, inadequate provision on public participation in decision making etc.

“Another major flaw with the biosafety regulatory structure is the composition of the board of the NBMA with key promoters of GMOs e.g the National Biotechnology Development and Research Agency sitting on that board to decide on permits that agencies including the NABDA will apply for” he added.

Speaking at the Government House during the rally, Leftist Omobude Agho, Coordinator-General, EDOCSO, while expressing worry that 14 seeds have been approved for GMO by the agency saddled with the responsibility of regulating food in the country, urged Edo governor to enact an Executive Bill that would criminalise GMO foods in the state.

Agho added: “Edo State Governor must come up with an Executive Bill and send to the House of Assembly against GMOs. And in that bill, it should be stated that any shop or anybody caught selling GMO foods in the state would be seriously punished. 21 years imprisonment would be better for people caught violating the order.”

According to the Coordinator-General, EDOCSO, GMOs were introduced by the Western world in order to cause sickness in people’s bodies so that they (Western world) can sell their pharmaceutical products.

Agho added: “What they have planned is to put sickness in our bodies by all means so that they can sell their pharmaceutical products. What they have planned is to shorten our life spans.

“The secret of it all is that they want to colonise our food. Our lives will be dependent on their laboratory to eat food. We must determine to leave our lives and not the Western world determining it for us. Our lives are our rights, we must reject GMOs,” he added.

News

PHOTOS: Brazil Welcomes Tinubu With Full Military Honours In Brasília

Published

8 hours ago

August 25, 2025

Editor

Brazil on Monday rolled out full military honours at the Planalto Palace in Brasília to receive President Bola Tinubu.

Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, disclosed this on X on Monday.

Onanuga said Tinubu was welcomed by his host, President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.

He wrote, “More photos of the official reception for President Tinubu at the Planalto Palace in Brasília, Monday, August 25, 2025. Brazil’s President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva welcomed President Bola Tinubu with full military honours.”

News

Tinubu Signs Direct Flight, Other Agreements With Brazil

Published

8 hours ago

August 25, 2025

Editor

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has signed a landmark Bilateral Air Service Agreement with Brazil, signalling the establishment of direct air links between Nigeria and South America’s largest economy.

The agreement was formalised on Monday during Tinubu’s official state visit to Brasília.

Media aide to the minister, Tunde Moshood, made this known through a statement, made available to The PUNCH.

At the signing ceremony which was witnessed by Messrs Nigerian President, Tinubu and the Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva in Brasilia also had the Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, signed the agreement on behalf of Nigeria, while Brazil’s Minister of Transport, Silvio Costa Filho, also signed for the host country.

The BASA creates a new framework for direct flights between Nigeria and Brazil, with the potential to significantly enhance trade, tourism, investment, and diplomatic relations.

The statement further noted that, “ It also marks a key step in Nigeria’s broader efforts to strengthen international partnerships and improve global connectivity.”

Tinubu had arrived in Brazil with a delegation that included Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun; Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Bianca Ojukwu; Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari; and other senior government officials.

According to the statement, the Brazilian President welcomed the agreement, expressing his administration’s commitment to expanding cooperation with Nigeria in sectors such as aviation, agriculture, and infrastructure.

He described the BASA as a reflection of the strong ties between both countries and an opportunity to deepen economic and cultural collaboration.

Tinubu is also scheduled to hold meetings with key Brazilian government officials, including the President of the Senate, the President of the Chamber of Deputies, and the President of the Supreme Federal Court.

The two-day visit will include high-level discussions between Nigerian and Brazilian delegations across various sectors, as both nations explore opportunities for mutual growth and development.

The statement reads, “The ongoing state visit will also see President Tinubu meeting the President of the Brazilian Senate at the National Congress, the President of the Chamber of Deputies, and the President of the Supreme Federal Court.

“The working visit, which continues tomorrow, will also feature high-level engagements between Nigerian and Brazilian delegations across various sectors, underscoring both nations’ commitment to building a future of mutual growth and prosperity.”

News

NAFDAC Warns Of Fake Postinor-2 In Circulation

Published

8 hours ago

August 25, 2025

Editor

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control on Monday issued a public alert, warning the public about confirmed counterfeit batches of Postinor-2 (Levonorgestrel 0.75 mg) now circulating in Nigeria.

The alert follows a report from the Society for Family Health, the marketing authorisation holder, confirming that they did not import the suspect batches.

Postinor-2 (Levonorgestrel 0.75mg) is a brand of emergency contraceptive pill containing the active ingredient levonorgestrel.

NAFDAC revealed there are noticeable labelling discrepancies between the authentic and fake products.

It said, “The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) hereby notifies the public of falsified Type 1 and 2 batches of POSTINOR 2 (Levonorgestrel 0.75mg) product in circulation.

“The noticeable difference was found to be as follows: The font size of the text on the pin verification sticker appears smaller and has a wrong spelling of the word Veify instead of Verify on the fake; meanwhile, the text font on the sticker of the original appears bigger and more visible. There is also a wrong spelling behind the pack of the fake “Distnibuted in Nigeria” instead of distributed in Nigeria”, NAFDAC said.

NAFDAC identified the original Postinor-2 as batch T32458H, manufactured in February 2023 with an expiry date of February 2027 and registration number 04-6985.

The agency, however, confirmed two falsified versions: Counterfeit Product (Type 1), batch T36184B, manufactured in August 2024 with an expiry date of August 2028; and Counterfeit Product (Type 2), batch 332, manufactured in March 2023 with an expiry date of February 2027, both carrying the registration number 04-6985.

It said that due to the potential presence of incorrect, substandard, or harmful ingredients, improper dosages of levonorgestrel, and a lack of sterile manufacturing conditions, poses significant risks to individual health and public safety.

“The risks of administering falsified Postinor 2 (Levonorgestrel 0.75mg) include failure of contraceptive effect, toxic or harmful contaminants, unpredictable side effects, delayed or missed opportunity for genuine emergency contraception, and potential long-term reproductive health impact. Unexpected side effects: Unknown substances can trigger allergic reactions, organ damage, or death.

“Counterfeit medicines are unregulated, untested, and illegal, making their safety and efficacy impossible to guarantee. Patients should only obtain Postinor-2 from verified pharmacies or licensed healthcare providers.

“Although Investigations are still ongoing regarding the source of the falsified product, all NAFDAC zonal directors and state coordinators have been directed to carry out surveillance and mop up the falsified product of type 1 and 2 postinor 2 (Levonorgestrel 0.75mg) within the zones and states,” it added.

NAFDAC urged consumers and healthcare providers to verify PIN stickers carefully, report suspected counterfeit products, and always purchase medications from reputable sources.