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The South-South Community in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja has called on the Federal Government to alleviate their plight due to flooding in the area.
Retired Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mike Okiro made the call during the maiden edition of Autochthonous South-South Nations Summit on Monday in Abuja.
Okiro who is also Chairman, Board of Trustees (BOT) South-South Community in FCT urged the Federal Government to assist the region curb the devastating effect of flooding experienced by the people.
“Government should channel the rivers and lakes in the South-South part of this country to reduce the hardship that people suffer every year as a result of the flood.
“However, the suffering from the flooding is not only experienced by the indigenes of the South-South region but it’s also experienced by the entire country,” he said.
Amb. Dickson Omoregie, President, South-South Community, FCT Abuja said the meeting was to foster unity amongst the South-South people.
Omoregie said that the era has come for the people of the region to decide their destiny through the 2023 general elections.
“We have urged all the South-South indigenes to go and register so that their votes can count in this country,” the president said.
Omoregie said the people’s vote would be a tool to negotiate strength within the South-South region to ensure a positive change in the region.
Mr Premier Bello, who is the Chief Coordinator of the South-South Community in FCT said the group was determined to showcase itself amongst the geo-political zones in the country.
“We want our voices to be heard so as to sumount the challenges facing the region,” Bello said.
Dr Rufus Ebegba, a member of the group also said that there was no doubt that the South-South region is plagued with a lot of environmental issue.
Ebegba who is also the Director -General of the National Biosafety Management Agency urged the group to make use of the natural resources in the area.
“I think we have human resources and we also have what it takes to give a better standard of living to the people of the South-South region.
“We as a people of the South-South must entrench ourselves into the national system, to be trusted, given sensitive positions and be inclusive in governance,” he said.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the group comprised of the six South-South states namely, Bayelsa, Akwa Ibom, Delta, Edo, Rivers and Cross River.
NewsSourceCredit: NAN
Dr Rufus Ebegba, the Director General (DG) of the National Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA) in Abuja, on Friday tasked the government that may win the 2023 elections to care for security of all Nigerians.
Ebegba said this when the Renaissance Team Nigeria for of the All Progressives Congress paid him a courtesy visit.
The DG urged the team to make the security of Nigerian citizens count.
“As the President has promised, the issue of insecurity shall be over.
“We need the cooperation of every Nigerian so that we can collectively entrench a new government that will always protect our interest,” he said.
Ebegba expressed optimism that the delegation would not only be successful at the polls but would give the people a new lease of life.
“No matter the challenges, we are passing through as a nation, Nigeria is not alone, the government is doing what it needs to do,” he said.
The DG assured that Nigerians would overcome the challenges.
Ebegba urged Nigerian youths to be hopeful that a new dawn is about to be entrenched in the country in 2023.
Responding, Sen. Ita Enang, the convener of the group commended Ebegba for his efforts in biosafety regulations in Africa.
“If we have needed biosafety and all other things that relate to food and other technology, it is now that we are being faced with natural and unnatural challenges,” Enang said.
He said that the Nigerian agricultural, scientific and biotechnology practice is showcased by what NBMA is doing.
NewsSourceCredit: NAN
Dr Rufus Ebegba, the Director General (DG) of the National Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA) on Tuesday reiterated the agency’s readiness to ensure safety of food and environment in the country.
Ebegba spoke in Abuja at a stakeholders review of draft of the agency’s guidelines and training on stewardship of Genetically Modified (GM) products in Nigeria.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the meeting was held in collaboration with the African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD).
The review is on GM fish, animals, trees and mosquitoes.
Ebegba said that the meeting would drive the processes on issues of biosafety.
“We want to be on top of our issues as an agency,” he reiterated.
The DG said that the issue of biotechnology would continue to gain more grounds in the country.
Similarly, Mr Samuel Timpo, the Principal Programme Officer, African Biosafety Network of Expertise commended NBMA for its activities that was aligned with the African Union.
Timpo commended NBMA for its diversity and team work having deemed it fit to collaborate with stakeholders in all its guidelines review.
He said the agency was transparent in all its decisions on issues of biosafety.
“NBMA has nothing to hide because most of its decisions are posted publicly on its website,” Timpo said.
He said that NBMA is known for integrity and impartiality especially on how its biosafety issues are reviewed.
“They allow African countries to ask questions on the review of guidelines.
This shows that they are fair to all,” Timpo said.
He said that the agency is accountable and efficient while commending it for professionalism in handling the issues of biosafety in Africa.
Mrs Bello Scholastica, Head, Planning and Research, NBMA, said that the review of the agency’s guidelines was to prevent any adverse effect on human health, animals, plants and the environment.
Scholastica assured that the meeting would correct errors and capture omissions to enable a robust, complete, accurate guidelines.
She said that the meeting would come out with non – contradictory, practicable, and easy to understand guidelines to be applied by players.
NewsSourceCredit: NAN
Critical stakeholders in the agricultural sector have urged farmers to adopt the commercialised genetically modified cotton seeds which have the capacity to revive Nigeria’s moribund textile industry.
This is contained in a statement signed by Sarah Mela, Information Officer for Open Forum on Agricultural Biotechnology (OFAB), and made available to newsmen in Abuja on Friday.
Mela said the stakeholders assured that if farmers adopt Bt cotton seeds, Nigeria’s comatose textile industry would be easily revived.
She said: “They stated that many years of rigorous research have led to the development of a genetically modified hybrid cotton that can give value to farmers in all the cotton growing zones in Nigeria.
“The stakeholders disclosed this at the recent workshop for cotton farmers in Abuja, organised by OFAB Nigeria in collaboration with the US Department of Agriculture( USDA) and the National Cotton Association of Nigeria ( NACOTAN).
”
Mela said Mr Ravi Kumar, Business Manager of Mahyco Nigeria Agricultural seed company, disclosed that there were good varieties of seeds called Bollgard 2 cotton ball hybrids in the market which would benefit farmers.
Mela said Kumar told participants at the event that the variety had high yield capacity and was insect resistant, ensuring less labour requirements of spraying.
“According to him, about 3,000 500 grammes of seeds had been distributed to cotton farmers across 12 states of Sokoto, Zamfara, Katsina, Niger, Kaduna, Kano, Plateau, Bauchi, Gombe, Adamawa, Taraba and Cross River.
”
Mela quoted Prof. Abdullahi Mustapha, Director-General, National Biotechnology Development Agency (NABDA) NABDA, as saying that the Nigerian government remained committed to reviving the textile industry through a reinvigorated cotton farming system.
He also said that Nigeria was also monitoring to ensure that seed companies do not compromise the quality required for the desired high yields.
Mustapha equally called on farmers to adopt the Bt cotton and assured them that the variety already released into the market was safe for the environment.
He said the varieties were suitable for cultivation in all cotton growing zones of the country.
Mustapha added: “Recent initiatives to improve the contribution of the agricultural sector to economic growth in Nigeria have emphasised the importance of cotton production in stimulating the economy.
“Bt. cotton therefore raises hope for textile industry revival as the commercialisation has started a revolution that will help Nigeria in its cotton productivity deficit.
”
Mela said the NABDA D-G added that the stage was set for self-sufficiency in the production of cotton as industrial raw material with the subsequent transformation of the textile industry.
The OFAB Information Officer Dr Rufus Ebegba, the D-G of National Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA),said that government agencies involved in biotechnology and biosafety issues were giving due attention to cotton seeds.
Ebegba said Bt. cotton was a product of modern biotechnology that the government had put in place a world class system to protect the interest of Nigerians and the environment.
The National President of Cotton Farmers Association of Nigeria (NACOTAN), Mr Anibe Achimugu said farmers had recorded high yields since the advent of Bt cotton.
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NewsSourceCredit: NAN
Prof. Abdullahi Mustapha, Director-General of National Biotechnology Development Agency (NABDA), said productivity data obtained from farmers’ fields was key to the revival of the moribund textile industry in Nigeria.
Mustapha said this at a one-day Biotech(Bt) cotton stakeholders’ training workshop on Monday in Abuja.
According to the D-G, the stage was now set for self-sufficiency in the production of cotton as an industrial raw material capable of boosting the transformation of the textile industry.
He said: “Nigerian farmers who would be involved in Bt. cotton business would be empowered to enjoy increased productivity.
“We cannot overemphasize the irreplaceable role Bt. cotton plays in reviving Nigeria’s economy.
“It can produce 4.1 to 4.4 tonnes per hectare, compared to the local variety, which yields just 600 to 900 kilogrammes per hectare.
“Since Bt. cotton can resist the devastating bollworm and tolerate sucking insects, it will help farmers reduce their use of pesticides.
“This also helps to minimise environmental impacts and lowering production costs.
”
Mustapha, who was represented by Dr Nasiru Ibrahim, Director of Agricultural Biotechnology department, assured that these varieties were suitable for cultivation in all Nigeria’s cotton growing zones.
He said,” in addition to the pest-resistant traits, they offer early maturity, fiber length of 30.0 to 30.5 millimeters and fiber strength of 26.5 to 27.0 in tenacity and strength of 3.9 to 4.1.
” Bt. cotton varieties would save farmers the trouble of contending with the local conventional variety, which was no longer accepted at the international markets.
”
Mustapha said that recent initiatives to improve the contribution of the agricultural sector to economic growth in Nigeria had emphasised the importance of cotton production in stimulating the economy.
“Bt. cotton, therefore, raises hope for textile industry’s revival as the commercialization has started a revolution that will help Nigeria in curbing cotton shortage.
“In the last 3 to 4 decades, biotechnology worldwide had shifted from being seen as a strategic emerging industry to one of the mainstays of most advanced nations’ strategic industries,’’ Mustapha said.
Dr Rose Gidado, Deputy Director at the agency and the Country Coordinator, Open Forum on Agricultural Biotechnology (OFAB), said that the workshop brought together key cotton stakeholders and farmers.
Gidado said that the workshop would also provide education to counter misinformation and increase understanding of crop varieties using biotechnology, among others.
She stated that investments in awareness creation on agricultural biotechnology issues would deliver multiple positive responses.
“There is the need to unbundle the application of this technology for national growth to secure popular support from the masses,’’ Gidado urged.
Dr Gerald Smith, Counselor for Agricultural Affairs at the United States Department for Agriculture(USDA), said that in spite of large cotton planting areas, Nigeria still lagged behind other cotton cultivating countries in terms of production.
“I believe the use of Bt. cotton can help foster increased yields and productivity.
“Over several years, farm trials in Asia showed that Bt. cotton yielded about 60 per cent more than conventional varieties,’’ Smith said.
Mr Anibe Achimugu, President of National Cotton Association of Nigeria(NACOTAN), said, “cotton is an industry on its own and it could be Nigeria’s major foreign exchange earner.
”
Achimugu was represented by Mr Ado Sule, Director of Administration in NACOTAN.
Dr Rufus Ebegba, Director-General of National Biotechnology Management Agency(NBMA) urged, “Nigerians should trust the government about safety of genetically modified crops.
”
The workshop had as theme: “Grassroot Engagement for Sustainable Commercialisation of Bt. cotton.
”
It was organised by NABDA, in collaboration with NACOTAN and USDA, among other critical stakeholders.
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NewsSourceCredit: NAN
The Rufus Ebegba Centre for Leadership and Environmental Sustainability (REC) has called on the general public and political candidates contesting in the 2023 general elections to ensure a peaceful, free and fair election.
The founder of REC, Dr Rufus Ebegba said this in a statement made available to the News Agency of Nigeria in Abuja on Tuesday.
Ebegba said there is need for the candidates and the electorates to ensure that the electoral process is peaceful and violence free to ensure a proper democratic transition.
“Civic space, public participation, fundamental freedoms and a violence-free environment are critical to foster inclusive engagement in the electoral process and the exercise of political rights.
”The use of abusive language and disrespect for opponents’ views should be avoided,” he said.
Ebegba said it is important for Nigerians to reject violence and political tension during the campaign.
He added that hate speech by candidates and their supporters, have a dangerous potential to ignite flames of violence.
Ebegba urged all parties to uphold the rights to political participation, freedoms of assembly, opinion and expression, and to respect the role of an independent electoral body.
”All those involved in the electoral process must commit themselves to peaceful conduct prior, during and after elections.
“Candidates and political parties must refrain from using inflammatory languages which may lead to violence and human rights abuses.
“Successful elections are key to mitigating the security challenges and other economic malaise bedeviling the country,” he said.
The founder urged all leaders and candidates to make it clear to their supporters that violence has no place in democratic elections.
”They should not incite, support or engage in any kind of violence before, during, or after the votes are counted,” Ebegba said.
He called on Nigerians to peacefully express their views and to reject the voices of those calling for violence.
Ebegba assured that when elections are free and fair, it is the responsibility of all citizens to help keep the peace, no matter who wins.
NewsSourceCredit: NAN
The National Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA) on Tuesday announced it is entering into synergy with Ethiopia and Mozambique to ensure entrenchment of biosafety practices in Africa.
The Director General (DG) of NBMA, Dr Rufus Ebegba, said this in Abuja while receiving delegates from Ethiopia and Mozambique on a learning tour on biosafety.
Ebegba said that Nigeria deserves to synergise with other African countries to ensure biosafety.
The DG said that NBMA has the responsibility to regulate the activities of modern biotechnology, deploy and use their products which is the Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs).
He said the agency had always ensured that GMOs did not have negative impact on the society.
“The agency has been able to establish a GMO detecting analysis laboratory to ensure that all GMOs suspects are properly analysed, detected and confirmed not to have meritorious genes.
“The activities of the agency have led to various development of various guidelines to enable effective delivery of national biosafety activities in our country.
“We have not failed our country in ensuring that safety is our watchword,” Ebegba said.
Responding, the Mozambican representative, Dr Roda Uniz, said the agency was a good example to follow in terms of biosafety around the continent.
“We are here to learn how this technology is going to improve the lives of Africa and to protect our environment,” Uniz said.
Prof. Firew Mekbib, President, Ethiopia Society of Biotechnology said that Africa could not develop without biotechnology.
Mekbib commended NBMA for its activities to ensure biosafety in the continent.
Dr Francis Nang’ayo, Head of Policy and Regulatory Affairs, African Agricultural Technology Foundation Kenya, promised to comply with approval conditions from NBMA on biosafety.
Nang’ayo commended the great achievements made by NBMA and promised to learn more on biosafety from the agency.
NewsSourceCredit: NAN
The National Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA) has promised to effect continuous regulatory systems on Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs).
The Director General (DG) of the agency, Dr Rufus Ebegba said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria on Thursday in Abuja.
Ebegba said that the guidelines would help the agency to be more effective in the regulatory systems with respect to GMO’s.
The DG said that the NBMA’s guidelines would also guide various research institutes, individuals and technology developers in their activities.
He said that the guidelines would ensure that modern technology in the area of inclusion of more than one gene in the development of GMOs was safe.
“In the recent development of GMO’s, we believe these guidelines have been reviewed thoroughly and not in the Nigeria context alone.
“The guidelines have also been subjected to international exposure.
We are happy with our international input to these guidelines.
“Our decision has been based on the interests of our country and conviction that these approvals were granted as safe and not only being safe,” Ebegba said.
He urged the staff of NBMA to take issues of security seriously.
“As the world is going on, we don’t doubt that the issue of terrorism might emerge so Nigeria as a country must be well prepared,” Ebegba said.
He assured that the agency would always ensure that the environment was protected from harmful biological agents.
The DG said that the issue of COVID-19 is still very much alive and Nigerians must understand that its impact was not only on human life but also on socio-economic lives of citizens.
He said that the pandemic had brought economies to their knees.
“Over the years, we have strived to make giant strides in the face of challenges.
“We, as an agency representing the government at the international level has assisted Africa as a continent.
“We have also supported the African continent in the area of putting together skills and knowledge to ensure that Africa is not left behind in the issues of biosafety and biosecurity,” Ebegba said.
NewsSourceCredit: NAN
Stakeholders at a public hearing organised by the Senate Committee on Environment have urged the Senate not to amend the National Bio-safety Management Agency (NBMA) Act (2015).
They told the committee which sat in Abuja on Wednesday that any attempt to amend the Act would be retrogressive.
Prof. Abdullahi Mustapha, Director-General, National Biotechnology Management Agency, told the committee that such amendment was unnecessary and would limit the practice of science in Nigeria.
“Nigeria has enacted deliberate policies that positioned science and technology as the engine to drive the economy.
“Turning around to set up unnecessary roadblocks will limit science from taking the country to its desired destination,’’ he said.
Mustapha charged the Senate to jettison the proposed amendment because the move was anti-people and anti-development.
In another submission, Prof. Mohammed Ishiyaku, Executive Director, Institute for Agricultural Research, said the 2015 Act remained the best protection for proactive modern biotechnology in Nigeria.
He noted that amending the Act would amount to reversing the gains made since the coming of the law in 2015.
According to him, the proposed amendment will tighten the hands of scientists and make the practice of science impracticable in the country.
He stressed that it would also not add any value to the practice of science in Nigeria.
Dr Rufus Ebegba, Director-General of the NBMA said the proposed amendment would kill the desire of scientists to contribute to the socioeconomic development of Nigeria.
He stressed that it would also make Nigeria to become a dumping ground for unauthorised genetically-modified organisms.
Similarly, Prof. Celestine Aguoro of the University of Makurdi said the proposed amendment was targeted at driving indigenous scientists away from Nigeria as it would end up limiting their scope and frustrating their efforts.
Speaking in the same vein, Prof. Chiedozie Egesi, who represented the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture at the hearing, also said the proposal was retrogressive.
He stressed that it would further reverse the progress made in biotechnology in Nigeria.
Mr Kabir Ibrahim, president of All-Farmers Association of Nigeria, said farmers in Nigeria were in support of biotechnology and that any attempt to limit its scope of operations would not be welcome.
Ibrahim added that Nigerian farmers needed technology that would lift them out of poverty and that biotechnology was the only solution.
Dr Andrew Illoh, who represented the Sheda Science and Technology Complex, also addressed members of the committee, urging them to terminate any move to amend the Act.
Mr Vitumbiko Chinoko, Project Manager of African Agricultural Technology Foundation and Open Forum for Agricultural Biotechnology, also derided the proposed amendment.
He said it should not even be given any consideration.
Chinoko stressed that Nigeria is already established as the leading bio-safety driver in Africa and would lose her position if the Act was amended to limit the scope of researchers.
NewsSourceCredit: NAN
Dr Rufus Ebegba, Director General (DG) of the National Biosafety Agency Management (NBMA), on Tuesday assured Nigerians that the centre would address the lingering environmental issues in the country.
He said this at the unveiling of the Rufus Ebegba Centre (REC) for Leadership and Environmental Sustainability and book launch in Abuja.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the book is titled “Developmental Drive and Strategies, Solution Approach”.
The DG said that without an ideal environment, man could not survive, hence “environment is where we all live”.
He said that his vision is to see how a world where leadership would always be there for the people could be created.
He said in spite of the threats in the country, citizens had a duty towards leadership.
The Deputy Senate President, Ovie Omo-Agege, commended the efforts of the DG for the unveiling of the centre and the book launch.
The Senate President, who is represented by his Chief of Staff, Dr Otive Igbuzor, urged everyone to take part in the development of the country so as not to leave it for the government alone.
The Emir of Nasarawa, Malam Ibrahim Jibril, urged everyone to take environmental issues serious as they were front burners that had consequences on humans.
The emir who is also a former Minister of Environment, said the environmental issues were occasioned by climate change and had consequences on the socio economic activities of Nigerians.
Jibril commended the DG for establishing the centre where researches could be carried out on environmental issues and sustainability.
The DG of the National Biotechnology Development Agency (NABDA) Prof. Abdullahi Mustapha, said that writing book and establishing a centre was a legacy left for everyone to benefit.
He commended Ebegba for conceiving a centre that would transform the lives of people in the country.
“Touching lives of people is something that not everyone of us has the ability to do,” DG NABDA said.
The Minister of Environment, Dr. Mohammed Abdullahi, said the centre would offer a lot in the area of biosafety, biotechnology, biosecurity and bio regulations on genetic applications in the country.
The minister, who is represented by his Special Assistant on Environment, Mr Abdulkadir Abdullahi assured of his support for the centre.
The book reviewer Prof. Peter Anyaegbu, said that the book was a veritable tool to the politicians of conscience, civil servants and students of various courses.
He said that it classically discussed the state of Nigeria today and proffered solutions to it in order to achieve a viable and stable economy in Nigeria.
The book has 15 chapters and 188 pages.
NewsSourceCredit: NAN
