Nigeria’s biosafety expert has destroyed nearly a ton of unapproved genetically modified cotton seeds as part of an aggressive crackdown on illegal biotechnology imports. 

The National Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA) intercepted and disposed of 57 cartons of the transgenic hybrid seeds, weighing approximately 950kg, at its dedicated dump site in Auta Balefi, Karu Local Government Area of Nasarawa State, on Thursday, 2nd July 2026. 

This enforcement exercise highlights the state’s rigid stance on monitoring altered agricultural inputs before they enter the local farming ecosystem.

The large-scale disposal followed an intense period of intelligence gathering, border surveillance, and compliance monitoring by federal agents. 

Speaking at the dump site, the Director-General of the NBMA, Dr Fatima Zuntu, revealed that investigators successfully traced the unauthorised shipment to a private firm, Fiyah Global Concept Limited. 

The company imported and distributed the transgenic hybrid cotton seeds without securing any of the mandatory regulatory permits required under the NBMA Act and the statutory laws governing Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) in Nigeria.

Dr Zuntu clarified that the seizure was strictly a case of a regulatory compliance breach rather than a public safety emergency. 

She assured the public that the intercepted seeds did not pose an immediate danger to human health, livestock, or the wider environment, but stressed that the agency has already slapped the offending company with heavy administrative sanctions. 

The Director-General warned that no individual or corporate body stands above the law, reminding seed developers, researchers, and international biotechnology operators that formal regulatory approvals must be fully cleared before handling any genetically modified materials within the country.

The successful enforcement drive was executed in close partnership with the Environmental Health Council of Nigeria (EHCON). 

Reacting to the development, the Registrar of EHCON, Dr Yakubu Baba, praised the joint exercise as a vital, proactive step to block uncertified and illegally imported seeds from contaminating the local agricultural value chain. 

Dr Zuntu concluded by urging media houses to report on biosafety enforcement with absolute accuracy to build public trust, reaffirming that while Nigeria fully supports safe scientific innovation and modern biotechnology, transparency and accountability remain non-negotiable.

Source: NAN