The House of Representatives Joint Committees on Agricultural Production and Services, Privatization and Commercialization, Public Asset, Science, Engineering, and Special Duties has held a one-day public hearing on Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs).

During the hearing, Chairman of the Committee, Bello Ka’oje, urged stakeholders to remain objective and prioritize the well-being of Nigerians in their contributions.

Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari, also presented his submission on the matter. Following the hearing, Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) called on the House of Representatives to prohibit the use and consumption of GMOs in Nigeria to safeguard public health and the environment.

The groups attributed rising cases of cancer and other illnesses to GMO consumption and expressed concerns over its effects on biodiversity. They highlighted that over 80% of GMOs are engineered to tolerate herbicides, posing risks to the ecosystems.