The conversation around genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in Nigeria is heating up, with passionate voices on both sides. Genetically modified (GMO) food isn’t new in Nigeria, but the conversation around it exploded again recently.
It started when Nigerian medical influencer Dr. Chinonso Egemba, better known online as Aproko Doctor, posted a video on X defending GMOs. In it, he explained how genetically modified crops could help solve Nigeria’s deepening hunger crisis by increasing yields and cutting farming costs.
But it didn’t land well. The post quickly went viral, drawing over 5.9 million views, and reignited longstanding fears about who controls Nigeria’s food system. Critics were especially alarmed after users resurfaced photos of Egemba’s 2023 meeting with Bill Gates, a major investor in GMO research and agriculture across Africa. Gates has invested over $2.8 billion into Nigeria’s health and food sectors, which some see as helpful, but many view with deep suspicion.
Let’s break down the key arguments, address public concerns, and explore possible alternatives to Nigeria’s agricultural future.
The technology behind genetically modified crops isn’t new to Nigeria. GM food has been legally available in the country since 2019. In recent years, the government approved crops like Bt cowpea (engineered to resist pod borer pests), TELA maize (drought- and pest-resistant), GM cotton and soybeans, engineered to resist pests and droughts, respectively, with the promise of higher yields and lower costs.
Genetically modified organisms are plants (or animals) whose DNA has been altered in a lab to introduce traits like pest resistance or drought tolerance. These modifications should reduce pesticide use and improve productivity, especially as farmers face rising costs and climate-related crop failures. But many Nigerians have never fully accepted the idea. This isn’t just a matter of misunderstanding the science. The discomfort comes from years of witnessing how food systems, policies, and public health measures often happen without public consultation, especially when tied to foreign partners.
Recent discussions on social media have highlighted concerns regarding agricultural practices and food safety. One user noted, “The use of herbicide-resistant GMOs can trigger dangerous ecological changes in Nigeria.”
People worry that GMOs are being forced on the country rather than being introduced through inclusive policy-making. That sense of exclusion is at the heart of the pushback. Critics see the current model as one in which farmers and consumers have little say in what ends in their soil or on their plates.
Supporters of GMOs point to science-backed assurances from global bodies like the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) that say approved GMOs are safe to eat. A 2024 study in northern Nigeria found no toxic or allergenic risks in Bt cowpea.
But critics say these conclusions are based on global datasets, not long-term, Nigeria-specific research. Groups like the Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF) argue that there’s no real understanding of how GMOs affect Nigerians’ health in the long term. Pesticides like glyphosate, used with GMO crops, have been linked to cancer and gut health problems in some international studies.
The situation is more complex because Nigeria has a unique economic setting. Open markets and informal food systems make it difficult to regulate and label food effectively in Nigeria. One user on TikTok named @_alhili shared that they bought ginger from Mile 12 market, but it smelled like fuel, prompting concerns about chemical contamination. While that’s not necessarily GMO-related, it speaks to a deeper unease about what’s in our food and who’s watching.
GMO supporters argue that crops like Bt cowpea reduce pesticide use, which is better for the environment. But others, including this writer at Testbiotech, say Nigeria’s risk assessments are vulnerable.
The National Cotton Association of Nigeria even reported in 2024 that GM cotton fields didn’t yield more and left the soil barren, preventing other plants from growing for years. This soil exhaustion is deeply worrying for rural communities that depend on small plots of land for food and income.
Among the loudest voices against GMOs are smallholder farmers. Many say they were never consulted before the rollout of genetically modified seeds. A major issue lies in the way these seeds are sold and regulated. For centuries, Nigerian farmers have saved, exchanged, and replanted seeds; it’s part of the culture. But with patented GMOs, that independence disappears. Critics fear this could trap farmers in a cycle of corporate dependency, making it harder to survive without foreign help.
GM seeds are often patented by the companies that develop them, usually large, foreign biotech corporations. Instead, they must buy new seeds every season, locking them into expensive and often risky contracts.
An advocacy group, Greenpeace, has warned that this setup isn’t just inconvenient; it’s dangerous. It could create cycles of debt, reduce farmers’ autonomy, and make Nigeria’s food system overly dependent on foreign seed companies. For many, this feels like a new form of colonialism, disguised as science.
Nnimmo Bassey, an environmentalist and director at HOMEF, put it bluntly: “It has the long-term implications of transforming the environment, farmers’ varieties, and production practices; it will trap farmers into unsustainable, unsuitable, and unaffordable farming practices, and deepen the threat to food and nutritional security.”
There’s no doubt Nigeria is in trouble. According to the UN World Food Program, over 31 million Nigerians currently need food aid, an unprecedented number. For many pro-GMO advocates, this is the most compelling reason to use biotechnology in agriculture. Crops like Bt cowpea and TELA maize are engineered to survive harsh conditions, reduce losses, and give farmers a fighting chance.
But opponents say that GMOs alone won’t fix a broken system. They point out that after nearly three decades of global GMO use, hunger persists, even in countries with full-scale biotech farming. They argue that the real drivers of food insecurity are poverty, inequality, poor infrastructure, and lack of access to land. Bassey and others believe the benefits of GMOs are overstated, and that the real winners are the corporations that hold the patents, not the farmers working the land or the communities going hungry.
Professor Abdullahi Mustapha, Director General of the National Biotechnology Development Agency (NABDA), says these crops can empower farmers and boost incomes.
For many who oppose GMOs, the solution isn’t to reject science, it’s to look toward more holistic, locally rooted systems like agroecology. This approach combines traditional knowledge with modern sustainable practices. It focuses on crop diversity, natural pest control, soil health, organic fertilisers, indigenous and community seed saving and banks, and it empowers farmers, rather than making them dependent on corporate inputs.
Groups like HOMEF are pushing for policy support for agroecology, investment in community seed banks, and more farmer-led training. They believe this model can boost yields in a way that respects people and the planet.
The agency responsible for regulating genetically modified organisms in Nigeria, the National Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA), insists that all approved GMOs are safe. It follows international standards like the Cartagena Protocol, which guides environmental and health safety in biotech regulation.
But that hasn’t calmed public fears. Critics say approvals happen with little or no public consultation, and GMO foods are not clearly labelled in the market. In May 2024, Nigeria’s House of Representatives called for a suspension on new GMO approvals pending further investigation. But since then, no follow-up has been shared, adding to public frustration.
Here are a few steps that could help rebuild public trust and move the conversation forward:
GMOs might offer short-term solutions to hunger and climate challenges, but they also bring serious concerns about health, control, and long-term impact.
The debate over GMOs in Nigeria is not going away. If anything, it’s intensifying. As hunger grows and climate change threatens food systems, the pressure to act and to choose sides is mounting. Nigerians are right to ask: Who benefits? Who decides? And who gets left behind? Until those questions are answered, the backlash won’t go away, and maybe it shouldn’t.
Want to stay informed about the GMO debate in Nigeria and make smarter food choices? Follow AgroCentric on our various platforms for the latest updates on GM crops, biosafety, and sustainable farming.
