By Wednesday 9th December 2009, the Nigerian Bio safety bill would be up at the National Assembly for public hearing .That day, the nation will as it were, have an opportunity to decide for itself, whether or not, to make history as a nation willing to apply science and technology effectively and responsibly to agriculture in order to achieve food security and sustainable development.
Biosafety is a term used to describe efforts to minimize the potential risks that may stem from the use of biotechnology or products derived there from. With specific reference to genetically modified organisms (GMOs), biosafety aims at “ensuring that the development and use of GMOs, and products derived from them, do not negatively affect plant, animal and human health, agricultural systems, or the environment”.

The Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety (CPB) is an international harmonising mechanism that sets standards to regulate the intentional introduction of living modified organisms (LMOs) into the environment. These are a special group of GMOs that possess a novel combination of genetic material obtained through the use of modern biotechnology. To date 103 countries have signed the protocol and 87 have ratified it. The parties to the protocol are obliged to develop policies as well as legal and administrative systems to comply with the minimum standards set by the CPB.

Nigeria was one of the first countries to sign the Cartegena protocol in 2000 and ratify it in 2002. Ever since, the Federal Government has tried to put measures in place to ensure that the country meets all the needed requirements for fulfilling global regulatory standards for the practice of Biotechnology.

In 2001, the Federal Government of Nigeria, approved a National Policy on Biotechnology for Nigeria; resulting in the creation of the National Biotechnology development Agency, NABDA. With the core mandates of promoting, developing and facilitation of biotechnology activities in the country, the Agency has to explore and exploit the numerous tools and potentials of Biotechnology for the economic growth and prosperity of the nation.
Defined as any technological application that uses biological systems, living organisms or its derivatives, to make or modify products; Biotechnology is a cutting-edge technology that is applied in agriculture, health, environment and industry to enhance production in a tremendous way.
As laudable as biotechnology might be it cannot be practised without regulation. The Biosafety law stipulates safety assurance processes and procedures ensure that biotechnology is safest and most responsible manner.
As a result, the Nigeria government set up the National Biosafety Committee (NBC) supervised by the Federal Ministry of Environment. The NBC is a compendium of experts from different Government and Non-governmental Agencies on environmental, health, science and even security matters.
The NBC drew up biosafety guidelines for Nigeria, which currently is a Bill with the National Assembly. Having gone through two readings at the House of Representatives, the Bill awaits a public hearing which comes up on Wednesday, 9th December, 2009.
On that day, the entire world would look to see Nigeria show itself as a country serious about solving problems of her food security, sustainable development and poverty alleviation needs.
According to Director- General, National Biotechnology Development Agency, and Prof Bamidele Solomon, when passed to law, the country is adequately positioned to control and regulate biotechnology activities to meet approved global standards.
With these standards in place, Multi-national biotechnology companies will be able to come in to legally do business in Nigeria. Research and development grants and opportunities which in the past had been inaccessible due to lack of enabling facilities and capacity would be very easily available. Prof Solomon, therefore, calls on the general public and indeed all patriotic Nigerians to support the passage of this crucial bill into law.

IFEOMA COMFORT NDEFO
Head, PR Unit, NABDA
08069767475