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Over 70 CSOs Want Senate To Proceed With NBMA Re-amendment Bill

Published

3 years ago

September 15, 2022

Editor

By Joseph Ebi Kanjo

… Say Science Must Align With Country’s Realities

…Those Against The Bill Have No Regard For The Environment – Nnimmo Bassey

Groups of civil society organizations, researchers, farmers,
nutritionists and consumer groups representing millions of Nigerians
have called on the Nigerian Senate to proceed with the bill for an
amendment of the National Biosafety Management Agency Act (Amended
2019).

This call was made following the public hearing on the bill which held
on 31 August and 1 September 2022.

In a statement signed by over seventy (70) CSOs, different groups of farmers and experts, etc, a soft copy of which was made available to INFO DAILY, the coalition condemned the fact that
there was no real representation of CSOs and farmers at the public
hearing, stressing that amendment to the bill is vital for the protection of Nigeria’s biosafety, genetic/nutritional diversity, the rights of local food producers, and for economic resilience.

The groups also noted that “scientific integrity, social responsibility and accountability are not negotiable, and no technology should be exempted from these values.”

On Friday 2 September 2022, it was reported that some “experts reject biosafety act re-amendment” on the grounds that it would retrogress science and development in Nigeria.

But responding to this claim, the coalition stressed that science and development
must align with the country’s realities/context, adding that it must pass through the test of safety and sustain-ability. “Anything beside this is an ambush.”

Contributing to the argument, Nnimmo Bassey, Director, Health of the Mother Earth Foundation, one of the CSOs that signed the statement, said that those who are against
this bill have demonstrated utter disregard for the environment and the well-being of human.

He emphasized that the bill in its current state is anti-people, and does not protect the consumers or farmer’s interest and allows all sorts of genetically modified products into the country with lax regulation.

Also contributing, Akinbode Oluwafemi, Director of Corporate Accountability and Public
Participation for Africa, CAPPA, also a signatory to the statement, noted that science must be in the
interest of the people, the general public and not just a few industry
players.

Oluwafemi added that having a strict regulation of GMOs in
Nigeria means that “we are able to utilize science in a way that is
consistent with the standards of biosafety, ethics and good judgement.”

On his part, the Coordinator, Food Sovereignty Programme at Friends of the Earth Nigeria and Africa, Mariann Bassey-Orovwuje, noted that “lack of strict provision on the Precautionary Principle, the absence of strict
liability, the conflicting composition of the board of the NBMA (with
the National Biotechnology Development Agency as as well other promoters
of GMOs on it) and provisions permitting the Agency to receive gifts from various sources are just a few of the gaps in the watered-down NBMA Act that this bill seeks to address.”

According to Bassey-Orovwuje, “if the promoters of GMOs are so proud of their products, why do they have such a morbid fear of strict
regulation? If the technology is as safe as they claim then it should
meet up with the standards of safety and accountability.”

A Molecular Biologist, Ifeanyi Casmir warned that the direction science will take Nigeria with a lax regulatory system is one of disaster and
regret.

“We are not against science but those who take advantage of the
weak regulatory architecture to mastermind the importation and release of sundry untested and unproven GM products making the country an
experimental ground.”

On her part, Gloria Okon, leader of a woman farmer group in Katsina, stated that
farmers are most affected by GMOs, adding that the implications they bring and
thus their interest must be upheld.

She applauded the move by the Senate to ensure strict regulation of GMOs and implored that they see it
through despite the opposition from the promoters of the technology.

The groups, therefore, encouraged the lawmakers to proceed with the amendment bill and not give up nor give in to pressure from the purveyors of GMOs and
accompanying toxic chemicals.

“We need a regulatory system that can assure the country of its biosafety and not just dance to the tune of
those it is set up to check or merely imitate other countries whose
socio-economic and ecological systems are different from ours,” the coalition added.

Related Topics:HOMEF Nnimmo Bassey Senate

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Eating Takeout Food Often May Increase Heart Disease Risk — Study

Published

2 days ago

December 30, 2025

Editor

Research suggests that higher takeout food consumption may increase a person’s risk of cardiovascular disease, like heart disease.

In a new study, published in Food Science & Nutrition, researchers said eating takeout food too often can influence systemic inflammation that underlies much cardiovascular disease.

The study of over eight thousand people in the 2009 to 2018 U.S. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) found that those who eat greater amounts of takeout food are likely to have various elevated risk factors for heart disease.

They were interviewed in their homes and also visited a mobile examination centre, where they recalled their food intake, received cardiometabolic health assessments, and had blood collected.

Mammograms may predict heart disease risk in women — Study

The researchers found a correlation between the amount of takeout food a person consumes and their likelihood of developing chronic low-level inflammation, a key driver of cardiovascular pathology.

Deaths from cardiovascular disease and the consumption of takeout foods are both on the rise, and while that does not prove a causal relationship, the study explores whether there is a connection between the two.

The study tracked degrees of systemic inflammation according to the Dietary Inflammatory Index (DII), a scale that quantifies the risk of inflammation related to the intake of specific dietary substances.

The three major takeaways from the analysis included that a higher level of takeout food consumption corresponded to an unfavourable cardiometabolic profile consisting of lower HDL, as well as higher triglycerides, fasting glucose, serum insulin, and insulin resistance.

Jayne Morgan, MD, cardiologist and Vice President of Medical Affairs in a reaction, who was not involved in the study, explained that “Takeout food raises the cardiovascular risk not because of one ingredient, but because of a predictable combination of nutrients, additives, and preparation methods that adversely affect blood pressure, lipids, insulin sensitivity, inflammation, and endothelial function.”

“This includes excess sodium that increases blood volume and blood vessel stiffness, and unhealthy fats, usually saturated fats or trans fats, that increase cholesterol level and atherosclerosis, a condition that can lead to heart attack and stroke.”

Michelle Routhenstein, Preventive Cardiology Dietitian at Entirely Nourished, also not involved in this study, declared, “It is also important to recognise that frequent takeout use often reflects broader lifestyle pressures such as demanding schedules, limited access to cooking resources, irregular meals, and disrupted sleep, all of which can quietly compound cardiovascular risk.”

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How To Identify Fake Kiss Condoms In Circulation

Published

2 days ago

December 30, 2025

Editor

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has recently warned Nigerians about the circulation of counterfeit Kiss brand condoms in major markets across the country.

Contents
Original DKT Kiss condoms
Fake Kiss condoms

In a public alert published on its website recently and referenced as Public Alert No. 042/2025, the agency said the warning followed information received from DKT International Nigeria, a non-governmental organisation involved in contraceptive social marketing and HIV/AIDS prevention.

NAFDAC stated, “The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control is notifying the public about the sale and distribution of fake Kiss condoms in various Nigerian markets.

“The information was received from the MAH-DKT International Nigeria, a leading non-governmental organisation focused on contraceptive social marketing. Its mission is to provide Nigerians with affordable and safe options for family planning and HIV/AIDS prevention.

“The fake Kiss condoms have been reported to be found in Onitsha Market, Idumota Market, Trade Fair Market, and various markets in Kano, Abuja, Uyo, Gombe, Enugu, and others.”

Kiss condom is a brand of male latex condoms designed to offer sexual protection, including the prevention of unwanted pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections such as HIV, gonorrhoea and syphilis.

To help consumers avoid counterfeit products, NAFDAC outlined key differences between original and fake Kiss condoms.

Original DKT Kiss condoms
The original product comes in a light red box pack with clear instructions printed on the lower part of the pack, including single-use warnings and storage and caution information. The box contains detailed medical device information, including MDSS GmbH, Germany, and a complete Nigerian address at Isolo Industrial Layout, Oshodi-Apapa Expressway.

The condom pack is light red, with the word “Kiss” closely written on six lines. The wallet outer pack is lighter red, carries the Oshodi-Apapa address, manufacturer details, and a clear product description beside the condom image. The hidden flap includes revision dates, medical device details, and caution information, while the wallet inner contains detailed instructions and eight bullet points under important notes.

The original condom is large, oval-shaped, well-lubricated, and has a large teat end for semen collection.

Fake Kiss condoms
In contrast, fake Kiss condoms come in darker-coloured box packs with little or no additional information. Some boxes are plain white inside and lack condom images. The address is wrongly listed as 42, Montgomery Road, Yaba, Lagos, while the manufacturer’s address is incomplete or missing. Storage and caution information is absent.

The condom pack is darker, with “Kiss” loosely written on five lines and wide spacing. The condom strip is longer than the original. The wallet outer pack is also darker red, carries incorrect or missing addresses, lacks colour wave designs, and shows inconsistencies in barcode lines. Medical device and caution information are missing, and the hidden flap contains no details.

Inside the wallet, information is summarised with only six bullet points. The fake condom is thinner, round-shaped, less lubricated, and has a smaller teat end.
(TRIBUNE)

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Lagos: Police Arrest 14 Suspected Traffic Robbers On Lekki-Epe Expressway

Published

2 days ago

December 30, 2025

Editor

Fourteen persons suspected to be involved in traffic-related robbery have been arrested at various points along the Lekki-Epe Expressway in Lagos over the past two weeks.

The arrests were confirmed on Tuesday by the Lagos State Police Command spokesperson, SP Abimbola Adebisi, via a post on her official X handle, @AbimbolaShotayo.

According to her, operatives of the Command’s Tactical Squad based in Elemoro carried out the operations that led to the suspects’ apprehension.

She explained that the arrests followed sustained patrols and intelligence-driven operations aimed at curbing criminal activities associated with traffic congestion and improving the safety of motorists and other road users along the busy corridor.

Adebisi noted that the development reflects the Command’s determination to strengthen security and uphold law and order on the Lekki-Epe axis, adding that the Tactical Squad has continued to proactively identify crime-prone areas and respond swiftly to threats posed by criminal elements.

She called on residents and commuters to support police efforts by providing timely and credible information that could assist in preventing and detecting crime.

“Security is a shared responsibility. Members of the public are encouraged to stay alert and promptly report any suspicious movements or activities to the nearest police station,” she said.

The police spokesperson further reassured residents and road users of the Command’s commitment to maintaining aggressive patrols and security operations to protect lives and property in the area.

She reiterated the Command’s community policing message, “See Something, Say Something,” stressing the importance of cooperation between the police and the public in sustaining peace and security.