EHCON and NBMA Destroy Illegal Seed Consignments

The Environmental Health Council of Nigeria (EHCON) and the National Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA) conducted an operation in Abuja, destroying illegal seed consignments valued at 40 million Naira. These seeds lacked the required regulatory certification and were suspected to be genetically modified organisms (GMOs).

Dr. Yakubu Moham Baba, the registrar of EHCON, described the operation as a proactive measure to curb the illegal importation of seeds, including both GMO and non-GMO varieties, without proper government certification. Dr. Fatima Suleiman Zuntu, the Director General of NBMA, stated that the action followed intelligence gathered through surveillance activities and compliance monitoring.

She emphasized that the disposal of the seeds was part of the agency's statutory responsibility to protect public health and preserve Nigeria's agricultural biodiversity. The NBMA will continue to enforce regulatory compliance to ensure the safe use of modern biotechnology in Nigeria.