Despite Nigeria’s Growing Concerns, NBRDA Director Claims GMOs Are Edible Vaccines

In a highly contentious public debate with health, environmental and agricultural experts, the Director of the National Biotechnology Research and Development Agency (NBRDA), Mrs Rose Gidado, made a controversial claim that the genetically modified organism (GMO) seeds are edible vaccines.

The contentious claim was made during a 3-hour webinar titled ‘CSOs Discourse in Biotechnology and GMOs Application in Nigeria’s Agricultural System’ last month and organised by the Center for 21st Century Issues.

During the webinar, Gidado presented a slide highlighting the supposed benefits of GMOs, including an increase in the shelf life of fruits and vegetables by delayed ripening, conferring resistance to insects, pests, and viruses, tolerance to abiotic stresses such as drought, salt, water-logging, herbicide tolerance and edible vaccines.

However, Gidado inexplicably omitted a crucial part of her presentation, which claimed GMOs are edible vaccines, leaving many questioning the NBRDA’s transparency.

This came amidst a rising demand for answers from Nigerians, who feel their health, food security, and sovereignty are being threatened by foreign corporate bodies.

Also, she maintained that introducing genetically modified seeds is safe despite contrary scientific research proving otherwise.

Meanwhile, over 16 countries have banned the commercialisation of GMO seeds, while others mainly restricted their use to laboratory research only.

It will be recalled that West Africa Weekly reported that the federal government approved the commercialisation of the GMO variety named TELA maize—an approval which sparked and continues to fuel a debate on its safety.

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Mayowa Durosinmi

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M. Durosinmi is a West Africa Weekly investigative reporter covering Politics, Human Rights, Health, and Security in West Africa and the Sahel Region

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