By Gabriel Ewepu & Favour Ulebor

ABUJA – AS the controversy and confusion continue to trail Genetically Modified Organisms, GMOs, the Health of Mother Earth Foundation, HOMEF, and others, Wednesday, insisted Nigeria do not need GMOs and called for its ban.

The Director of Programmes, HOMEF, Joyce Brown, stated this at a press briefing on the issues about GMOs, where Brown asserted that it was disaterous for the Federal Government to allegedly approve 25 GMO products, including maize, cowpea, and cotton, without thorough risk assessments.

According to her, GMOs have failed to increase crop yields or address food insecurity, with farmers reporting poor results and environmental harm.

She also accused the National Biosafety Management Agency of inadequate regulation, and alleged conflicts of interest in approving GMOs.

However, she urged the Federal Government to adopt sustainable farming methods like agroecology.

She said: “We demand a total ban on GMOs to protect our farmers, environment, and future.”

The Chairman of the Zimbabwe Anti-Sanctions Movement, Rutendo Matinyarare, also warned about GMOs, citing Zimbabwe’s experience.

Matinyarare claimed cancer rates increased after his country approved GMOs, but when the government made a U-turn cancer cases dropped when GMOs were banned.

Also speaking was an agricultural economist at the University of Port Harcourt, Prof Peter Ekunwe, who called for independent research on GMOs.

“Biotechnology is welcome, but GMOs are not safe for human consumption without proper studies”, he said.