The National Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA) has violated the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act by not responding to a request by West Africa Weekly. The request sought provision for proof of risk assessment and analysis conducted before the approval and commercialisation of the Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) seed variety named TELA maise.

The FOI Act of 2011 mandated that any public or private institution utilising public funds for public functions and related matters shall keep appropriate records and ensure it is made available seven days after an applicant requests to access them, including individual or media bodies, for a limited fee.

With this stance, West Africa Weekly wrote NBMA on Monday, June 24, 2024, to provide substantial evidence pointing to any risk analysis or assessment conducted for the agency to conclude TELA maise was safe for planting and human consumption.

The FOI request became necessary following the call for food security, the growing public debate and concerns surrounding the dangers GMOs pose in Nigeria’s agricultural and health sector and the nation’s food sovereignty.

With the growing public concerns, several government reports have been released, stating that the GMO-related TELA maise is safe for human consumption without any proof backing the claims.

This has called for transparency and accountability among Nigerians, most of which stemmed from negative but valid stories about GMO health implications worldwide.

Also, recall that West Africa Weekly reported the claims made by the Director of the National Biotechnology Research and Development Agency (NBRDA), Ms Rose Gidado, who highlighted GMO as an edible vaccine in her presentation to the Centre for 21st Century Issues.

Meanwhile, the federal government has approved and released the Bill and Melinda Gates-funded TELA maise seeds for planting, commercialisation and consumption in Nigeria’s porous staple foods market.