Coalition urges Lagos Assembly to ban GMOs

A coalition of over 70 civil society organisations has submitted a joint position paper to the Lagos State House of Assembly, demanding an immediate ban on genetically modified organisms (GMOs).

The group also called on the lawmakers to revoke all existing approvals and launch investigations into the long-term implications of these crops.

The demands were presented during an awareness rally in Lagos on Thursday, organised by several groups, including the Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF) and the Environmental Rights Action.

The coalition expressed concerns that the cultivation of GMOs threatens Nigeria’s biodiversity and undermines indigenous farming practices.

They warned that cross-pollination from engineered crops could contaminate local plant varieties and disrupt the ecological balance.

The groups also stated that patent restrictions on genetically modified seeds would force farmers to repeatedly purchase seeds from multinational corporations, increasing dependency.

Speaking at the rally, HOMEF’s Director of Programmes, Joyce Brown, stated that several countries had already restricted or banned GMOs to protect biodiversity. She urged the Lagos Assembly to build on a 2024 motion by the House of Representatives seeking to suspend GMO approvals.

Dr. Ifeanyi Casmir, a molecular biologist, during the rally urged the adoption of a precautionary biotechnology policy. He stated that research had detected Cry toxins from engineered crops in pregnant women and umbilical cord blood, warning of potential reproductive and toxicological risks.

An Associate Director at Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA), Olamide Martins, raised concerns about the adequacy of Nigeria’s biosafety regulations. He revealed that over 20 products have been approved since 2016 without independent, long-term risk assessments.

The coalition also called on the state government to address the insecurity preventing farmers from accessing their lands and to increase investments in agroecology to promote local food security.