ABUJA - Bio-safety can enhance the national economy by providing a useful regulatory framework on the use of genetically modified organisms (GMOs), Mr. Rufus Ebegba, the Assistant Director, Bio-safety Unit, Federal Ministry of Environment, has said.
Reports say that bio-safety is a measure designed to reduce and eliminate potential risk posed by modern biotechnology activities and products to the environment and human health.
Modern biotechnology is an advanced form of biotechnology from which GMOs and products are derived.
Ebegba told newsmen in Abuja that biotechnology could improve the economy, particularly in the agricultural and industrial sectors. “Biotechnology itself as a tool of enhancing the economy in the agricultural and industrial sectors in the country will be regulated by bio-safety.”
According to the environmentalist, a lot of industries can come into biotechnology activities, thereby generating employment, while new products will also generate revenue for the nation.
He noted that there would be a boom in those sectors by using modern biotechnology under a regulated framework.
Ebegba said the environment ministry was poised to ensure that this technology was utilised using a safe approach.
Also speaking with NAN, Mr. John Auta, the Deputy Director of Forestry in the ministry, said that the government should intensify its public sensitisation on the benefits and risks of consuming GMOs.
According to him, many people in the rural and even urban areas only eat whatever come their way without minding the inherent risk to their bodies.
“We need to look into other dangers that are also in these genetically modified organisms,” he said.
Auta suggested that the research institutes, universities and privates organisations, among others, should be encouraged to contribute their quota to decision making on bio-safety.
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