Farmers and civil society organisations in Bakassi Local Council of Cross River State have renewed calls on the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) to ban the importation and cultivation of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) in Nigeria.
They warned that continued reliance on GMOs poses serious threats to human health, soil fertility, and the nation’s food sovereignty.
The appeal was made during a sensitisation and training session organised by the Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF), in collaboration with the Peace Point Development Foundation (PPDF) and the Bakassi Returning IDP Community Association (IDPCA).
The event focused on educating farmers about the dangers of GMOs and promoting sustainable, organic agricultural practices.
Director of Programmes at HOMEF, Joyce Brown, explained that many farmers remain unaware of the long-term implications of GMOs.
She warned that dependence on genetically modified seeds would erode traditional farming systems and make farmers perpetually reliant on multinational seed corporations.
“With GMOs, farmers must buy seeds every season instead of replanting their harvest. This destroys local seed systems and undermines food independence,” Brown said.
She added that several studies have linked GMO consumption to health issues, including liver and kidney complications, immune disorders, and cancers, urging government to suspend further approvals pending independent safety reviews.
National Youth Coordinator of the Bakassi Returning IDP Community Association, Asuquo Okon, recounted how chemical fertilisers and pesticides had depleted the productivity of his farmland.
“In 2022, I used fertiliser and pesticide on my crops. The first year, the yield was good, but the next year, nothing grew. These chemicals are destroying our soil,” he lamented.
Coordinator of PPDF, Mr. Umo Isua-Ikoh, criticised NAFDAC for inconsistency on GMOs, recalling that the agency had earlier declared them unsafe before reversing its position.
He maintained that food insecurity in Nigeria stems more from insecurity and lack of access to farmland than from low yields
Leader of the Bakassi Legislative Council, Grace Bassey, described the training as timely and pledged legislative support for a local petition demanding a nationwide ban on GMOs.
Brown added that HOMEF has conducted similar campaigns in Edo, Enugu, and Kano states, with plans to extend the sensitisation drive across Cross River State.
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