NIGERIA – The Federal Government has tasked the country’s scientists and researchers to domesticate its biotechnology practice to prevent Nigeria from becoming a dumping ground for foreign Genetically Modified Organisms GMOs) or products.

It warned operators dealing in modern biotechnology activities and importers of GMOs to formalize their dealings with the National Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA) before December 2015.

Meanwhile, government has accredited the National Root Crops Research Institute, Umudike, the Institute for Agricultural Research, Zaria, Federal University of Technology, Akure, the National Cereals Research Institute Badegi and the National Biotechnology Development Agency for modern biotechnology activities across the country.

The Director General of the National Biotechnology Development Agency (NABDA), Prof. Lucy Ogbadu, and her counterpart at the National Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA), Mr. Rufus Ebegba, who spoke at the sideline at a media briefing on ‘Biotechnology, a Modern Science of Change is Asafe and Sustainable, organize by the Open Forum on Agricultural Biotechnology (OFAB) in Africa, week end in Abuja, averred that Nigeria has the capacity to effectively deliver the practice of biotechnology.

http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/gmos-fg-tasks-scientists-on-rollout-of-modern-biotechnology/221218/