ABUJA — The application of biotechnology, that is, the use of modern scientific techniques, including genetic engineering, to improve or modify plants, has come to stay in Nigeria. But this can only be effective if there is a law backing it.
In this piece, Chinyere Amalu examines the benefits Nigeria stands to gain by having a bio safety binding law.
The signing of Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety (CBD) by the then former President Olusegun Obasanjo in 2000, was a clear indication that the Nigerian government has interest in tapping into modern biotechnology, by joining the league of nations that are interested in such development and their adverse effect on the people and the environment.
The protocol which came into force in 2003 was designed to contribute and ensure adequate level of protection in the field of safe transfer, handle and use of living modified organisms resulting from modern biotechnology that may have adverse effect on conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity.
It was also in demonstration of her commitments to her children in eradicating poverty and ensuring abundant food yield, good environment and quality health through scientific application of organisms to plants "Genetic Modification Organisms" (GMOs), that the government also established the National Biotechnology Development Agency (NABDA), an agency with the sole responsibility of ensuring that she respects the protocol in all its ramification of biotechnology application, including its safety to human health.
But ten years after, the nation is yet to see the gains of biotechnology in clear terms. One of the major reasons for this failure is the absence of a legal framework for the full implementation of the Cartagena Protocol. Although, there is biotechnology regulation which started in Nigeria in the early 1990's with guidelines, it cannot be said to be legally binding.
According to the Director-General of NABDA, Prof. Solomon Bamidele, the guidelines only covered agricultural modern biotechnology and were not actually approved by the government. Even then, they were developed before the advent of the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety (CPB) and as such were not consistent with the protocol, he added.
Consequently, since the biosafety guidelines cannot be said to be legally binding, there is no way they can protect the applications of the new technology. Therefore, there is pressing need for the Nigerian government to develop a policy and law in biosafety that would address the subject of regulating modern biotechnology in a more robust and encompassing manner.
In recognition of this, the Federal Government inaugurated a National Coordinating Committee to draft the national biosafety framework under the UNEP/GEF. Thus, the development of national biosafety framework project in 2002 which produced biosafety bill and policy in 2006. The overall objective of the draft biosafety bill is to provide a regulatory regime and guidance for the sustainable development of modern biotechnology, its application and safe use of GMOs and the products thereof without prejudice and risk to public health, environmental health, national sovereignty, human dignity and fundamental human rights.
The goodnews is that, the Draft Nigeria National Biosafety Bill was presented to the National Assembly in January 2009 as a privately sponsored bill, and has gone through the first and second readings in the House, the Senate is expected to start its first reading early this week.
When eventually passed into law, Nigeria stands to gain a lot from it. For instance, it would help in defining modules of practice of modern biotechnology and the handling of its products (GMOs) to ensure safety to the environment and to human health. Others include, guiding different segments of society in contributing to safe application of modern biotechnology; recognising the complex issues to be addressed by central authorities in the judicious application of modern technology among others.
The Environmental Rights Action (ERA) described the draft bill as a unique one that "embodies a great deal of originality and authenticity, sorely missing in other African Biosafety laws." It added that the DB "does appear to have travelled a truly Nigerian journey and does not exhibit the traits of US interference found in other Biosafety Bills we have worked on earlier this year."
According to Hon. Gbenga Makanjuola, Chairman House Committee on Agriculture, the potentials of biotechnology are immense, as it can enhance food security, wealth creation and environmental sustainability.
He noted that the vision of Nigeria's biosafety was to ensure that the practice of modern biotechnology is undertaken within the scope of a regulatory system that will guarantee its safe application.
At the moment, appeals are pouring in to make the National Assembly quickly pass the bill. Said the Director-General of NABDA, Prof. Bamidele, though his agency has branches across the geo-political zones, it needed an enabling law in existence to swing into action and actualize all these dreams. "I am appealing to the state to fast forward the signing of the bill and its passage into law."
LEADERSHIP learnt that some non-governmental organisations are beginning to lobby the legislature on the need and essence of passing the bill. Last week, the organisations were said to have met some of the committee members on science and technology in the both houses of the assembly.
"We have told them that this would be a good thing for this country, if they pass the bill. We are eager to work and have an enabling environment to develop our biotechnology, and they seem to reason with us," a member of the organisaiton who craved anonymity said.
The year 2010 has been declared by the United Nations as the International Year of Biodiversity. The declaration has resulted in a surge in international efforts to protect the natural resource wealth of nations and to prevent biological loss. Mounting concerted efforts on the national assembly to pass the bill, in view of the benefits of biotechnology to the nation, is the most logical thing to do now.
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