By Ubong Ukpong, Abuja

House of Representatives has been urged to prohibit use and consumption of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO) in the country to protect the environment and the health of citizens.

The call was made by 92 African Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) at a public hearing on GMO organised by House Joint Committees on Agricultural Production and Services, Privatisation, Commercialisation, Public Asset, Science Engineering and Special Duties on Tuesday.

The coalition led by Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF) said that the rising cases of cancer and other related illnesses are traceable to the use and consumption of GMO.

In a document presented to the committee by Ms Joyce Brown, Director of Programmes (HOMEF) the coalition said GMOs are products of genetic engineering which is a technology that allows scientists to create plants, animals and micro-organisms by manipulating genes at the cellular level in a way that is not possible through traditional or natural processes.

According to them, it allows DNA from one type of organism to be introduced into another related or unrelated species; genetic manipulation is also done within a single organism.

They said that campaign against GMOs is particularly against genetic modification of food crops and animals and any other genetic modification that will alter ecosystem balance, negatively impact agriculture, destroy local economy and foods.

The CSOs said 19 European Union countries, four Asian countries, two African countries, five countries in the Americas have banned GMOs.

They said up to 64 countries require manufacturers to label foods with GMOs as an increasing number of people around the world are choosing to eat organic and non-GMO products.

“It is noteworthy that nearly all studies that claim GMOs are safe are funded by the very biotechnology corporations that produce and/or profit from GMOs sales.

“Several studies have linked the consumption of GMOs to a myriad of diseases including antibiotics resistance, the commercially approved Bt Cowpea expresses an enzyme which confers resistance to antibiotics – neomycin phosphotransferase II (NPTII).

“Multiple animal studies show significant immune dysregulation, including upregulation of cytokines (protein molecules involved in immune responses) associated with asthma, allergy, and inflammation. – AAEM, 2009.

“Studies have also shown that DNA molecule ingested in food can affect animals that eat them. MicroRNAs (miRNAs), of plants were found to be biologically active, affecting gene expression and the functioning of important processes in the body in the blood of humans and animals that had eaten them. Zhang, et al., 2012.

“Multiple toxins from GMOs have been detected in 93 per cent maternal and 80 per cent fetal blood including non-pregnant women’s blood. ( Aris and Leblanc, 2011; Woźniak et al., 2018).

“These toxins designed to kill crop pests are reaching humans and babies in the womb and could lead to allergies, miscarriage, and cancer (Poulter, 2011),” they said.

The coalition explained that GMOs have direct implications on biodiversity saying that over 80 per cent of GMOs are designed to be herbicide tolerant.

According to them, this has significantly increased the use of herbicides in the US for example; needful to say that these herbicides are produced by the same companies producing the genetically modified seeds.

They said that the herbicides do not only destroy the target weeds but also non-target organisms that are essential for soil health and overall ecosystem function.

“These chemicals can also run off  to contaminate drinking ground water and surface water including drinking water sources.

“There is also the severe threat of irreversible genetic contamination due to cross-pollination which could also lead to production of uncontrollable plant varieties and mutated plant varieties,” they said.

The CSOs argued that farmers who have been given GM seed to plant as well as extension workers have complained that although GMOs may perform well in the first planting season in terms of productivity, their productivity drastically declines in the second planting season.

They explained that farmers cannot replant these seeds but have to continuously purchase the seeds every new season.

“This signifies an attempt at seed colonialism and loss of our heritage – forcing our farmers and by extension, consumers to depend on mostly foreign corporations for seed.

“GMOs do not improve yields. On the 23rd of September, 2024 the National Cotton Association of Nigeria (NACOTAN) reported that they “did not record any significant increase in their yields compared to the local seed varieties but instead, since the introduction of GM cotton seeds during the 2020/2021 farming season, yield per hectare has remained almost the same.

“The worrying aspect is where the cotton farmers reported that no other plant has been able to germinate on the farmlands where the GM seeds were planted, even after four years.

 “The farm where we planted the GM seeds can no longer germinate our local seeds anymore. The land has been destroyed,” they said.

The coalition said that Nigerian communities and farmers in last the decade are steadily being ensnared into growing GM Crops.

They said that research conducted by Health of Mother Earth Foundation in 2019 concluded that Nigerian farmers know too little about GMOs to make informed decision.

They said farmers given GM seeds to plant are at best told that the crops would not require too much spraying and will increase productivity.

“We demand a nullification of all the permits issued for the importation and release of genetically modified maize, beans, cotton and other sundry products into the country. These permits have been issued without regard for the complaints by millions of Nigerians and without the consent of many.

“A close surveillance of our markets and farms to halt illegal entry of GMOs into Nigeria and into our food supply.

“An outright ban of all toxic agrochemicals also known as highly hazardous pesticides – especially glyphosate containing ones identified as probable carcinogens. Studies have shown that over 50% of pesticides, registered and used by farmers in Nigeria are classified as highly hazardous.

“This is our petition and the concern of millions of Nigerians. We are of strong opinion that if the suggestions in this petition are taken into consideration. it will protect the best interest of the Nigerian people and Africa as a whole,” they said.

Chairman, House Committee on Agricultural Production and Services, Hon Bello Kaoje said the issue of GMOs in agriculture is an ongoing global debate with two broad opinions.

He said the task of the Committee is to engage with key stakeholders who have been engaged in the debates on the appropriateness or otherwise of GMO.

“Our role as Legislators remain to ensure that governance is carried out transparently for the greater good of the nation. We assure all stakeholders that we shall discharge our Constitutional responsibilities to the best of our capacities and for the greater good of our dear nation,” he said.

Some members of the coalition include Free Nigeria Alliance, Center for Food Safety and Agricultural Research (CEFSAR) Corporate Accountability and Public Participation for Africa (CAPPA) Women Envoironmental Programme and Food and Health Limited.

Others are Nigerians Against GMOs, Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria (ERA/FoEN) Nigeria Women Farmers Association (NIWAAFA), We the People, and Association of Women Farmers of Nigeria.

Women and Youth in Agriculture, Udama Co-operative Farm, Green Alliance Nigeria, Women and Children Life Advancement Initiative, the Young Environmentalist Network (TYEN), Peace Point Action, Social Action Committee on Vital Environmental Resources (COVER) are also members of the coalition.