News

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

Published

1 year 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

Migration Agency Warns Migrants Against Irregular Travel Routes

Published

30 minutes ago

May 28, 2026

Editor

The International Organisation for Migration (IOM), in collaboration with Giving is Healing Foundation, has sensitised residents of Ayobo in Alimosho Local Government Area of Lagos State on the dangers of irregular migration and the need to embrace legal travel procedures.

Speaking during a sensitisation programme held at Megida Ifelodu Community Development Association in Ayobo, the founder of Giving is Healing Foundation, Mr. Gbolahan Ayediran, warned intending migrants against using illegal travel routes.

Ayediran said many Nigerians desire to migrate abroad in search of better opportunities but often ignore proper procedures, thereby exposing themselves to several dangers.

“Lots of people want to migrate and most of them do it in the wrong direction. The reason for the programme is for us to advise people on how they can migrate in the right way. As much as migration is their right, they should do it correctly,” he said.

He advised intending travellers to obtain the necessary travel documents before embarking on any journey, noting that such documents include international passports, visas, flight tickets and yellow cards, depending on the destination country.

According to him, migrants should also gather adequate information about their destination countries to enable them make informed decisions before travelling.

Ayediran further highlighted some of the dangers associated with irregular migration, including abuse, exploitation, discrimination and forced labour.

Also speaking, the Chairman of Megida Ifelodu Community Development Association, Elder Mathews Amusan, commended the organisers for enlightening members of the community on safe migration practices.

He urged residents planning to travel abroad to always follow legal migration procedures to avoid falling victim to human trafficking and other migration-related challenges.

One of the participants, Mr. Kolawole Adenoko, said the programme enlightened him on the dangers of irregular migration and the importance of travelling through the proper channels.

He added that he would also educate his relatives and friends on the risks associated with illegal migration.

News

Shatta Wale Bailed Burna Boy From Ghana Prison After Arrest For Smoking Weed – Captan

Published

3 hours ago

May 28, 2026

Editor

Ghanian singer, Captan, has claimed that his former record label boss, Shatta Wale, once bailed Nigerian singer Burna Boy out of prison in Ghana after he was allegedly arrested for smoking weed.

Speaking in a recent podcast interview, Captan claimed that Shatta Wale sent him and others to free Burna Boy from police custody.

He also claimed that Shatta Wale and his group once accommodated Burna Boy when he was being hunted by some dangerous men.

Captan said, “I once bailed Burna Boy out of prison in Ghana when he was arrested for smoking weed. Shatta Wale sent me and some guys to go and free him from police custody.

“There was a time we also accommodated him when some people were after his life. We helped him settle the case.”

He added that he and Burna Boy are no longer in good terms after the Nigerian artist’s fallout with his mentor, Shatta Wale.

He, however, said he and Shatta Wale are open to reconciling with Burna Boy if he asks for it.

Watch the video here

News

Children’s Day: Chaos At Ogbe Stadium As Dozens Faint

Published

19 hours ago

May 27, 2026

Editor

Chaos erupted on Wednesday during the Children’s Day celebration as dozens of students reportedly collapsed following a stampede triggered by the use of pepper spray.

The event,
organised by the Edo State Ministry of Education at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium was disrupted after some male students of Ihogbe College allegedly made uncompromising advances towards female students at the venue.
‎
‎ A parent who identified himself as Oboh Emmanuel said, “the behaviour of those uncultured students attracted the attention of bouncers stationed at the stadium as they rebuked the male students.”
‎
‎Oboh said the affected students later regrouped and attacked the bouncers, leading to a confrontation within the crowded arena.

READ ALSO:Children’s Day: Edo Commits To Child Protection
‎
It was gathered that in the ensuing confusion, the bouncers were reported to have deployed pepper spray in an area occupied by a large number of students.
‎
‎Several students, particularly female students, reportedly fainted after inhaling the substance, while others sustained injuries after being stepped on during the ensuing melee.
‎
‎The panic was said to have spread across the stadium as students, teachers and parents scampered for safety.
‎
‎Many of the affected students were reportedly rushed to the Edo Specialist Hospital for medical attention.

Reacting to the incident, Chief Press Secretary to Governor Monday Okpebholo, Dr Patrick Ebojele, said the security personnel that fired the tear gas had been detained.

He said all the students, except two, that were rushed to the hospital have been discharged.

Ebojele stated that doctors wanted to observe the students till tomorrow before allowing them to go home.

“The two students are not seriously injured. Doctors want to observe them overnight. Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education is still at the hospital. The man who used pepper spray has been detained.

“The incident did not happen the way it is being exaggerated. All modalities were put in place to ensure the children enjoyed their day.”
‎