By Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja
The National Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA) has raised the alarm over the unauthorised importation of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) maize into the country.
The Director General of the agency, Dr. Rufus Ebegba, gave the hint at a press conference Wednesdayin Abuja, where he revealed that the tonnes of  GMO maize were imported into the country without necessary approvals.
He stated that the agency got the notice to the information through intelligence report and has set in motion necessary machineries to track the importers and bring them to book.
According to him, “The NBMA got an intelligence report on the importation of GM maize into the country. We have no application from anyone on this and we are not aware of any move to bring in this maize. The NBMA Act 2015 has stipulated steps and procedures of the importation, production and processing of GMOs in the country and we will ensure that in the country and we will ensure that the act is strictly followed.”
Ebegba however urged the general public not to panic as the agency would never compromise on its mandate of ensuring that the safety of Nigerians and the environment was topmost in its dealings, adding that the NBMA and the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) would not allow any GM food into the country without adherence to due diligence.
