National Biosafety Management Agency

Agnes Yemisi Asagbra PhD #biosafety #biosecurity NBMA Nigeria

As we commemorate our Independence Day celebrating our 64th year as a nation, I extend warm greetings to all citizens across our great nation. Today, we celebrate not only our hard-won freedom but also the resilience and unity that have defined our journey as a people. In the spirit of independence, we at the National Biosafety Management Agency reaffirm our commitment to protecting our nation's biodiversity and ensuring the safe use of biotechnology as well as putting measures in place to ensure Biosecurity. As we embrace innovation, we must also safeguard our natural heritage for future generations. Happy Independence Day! Agnes Yemisi Asagbra PhD Director General/Chief Executive Officer, National Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA Nigeria )

ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL BIOSAFETY CONFERENCE 2024 Join us for the 2024 International Biosafety Conference! National Biosafety Management Agency as part of her mandate to build capacity of individuals and institutions on Biosafety, Biotechnology and Biosecurity related issues, is organizing its International Biosafety Conference 2024 from the 5th to 6th of November 2024. Click on the link below to register for the conference. https://lnkd.in/dhydt_Ex We look forward to welcoming you! Agnes Yemisi Asagbra PhD NBMA Nigeria #biosafety #biosecurity #geneediting

Welcome to our latest edition of THE REGULATOR. NBMA Nigeria is delighted to share with you, the latest updates, insights, and achievements in the field of #biosafety and biosecurity measures. We aim to keep you informed, engaged, and up-to-date on the latest developments in biosafety management, as we work towards ensuring the safe and responsible use of #modernbiotechnology in #Nigeria

The latest edition of NBMA Nigeria's Newsletter, "The Regulator," is out. Click on the link below to read up on our recent activities. https://lnkd.in/d-rgUzsc

National Biosafety Management Agency and Africa Health Budget Network Delegation Visited the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) aimed at strengthening the establishment of Nigeria National Biosecurity Advisory Council on Wednesday, 24th July. The meeting was convened to discuss the strategic next steps concerning the establishment of the Nigeria National Biosecurity Advisory Council in line with the National biosecurity 5-year Action plan. The National Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA) was led by the DG, Dr. Agnes Yemisi Asagbra PhD and Dr. Agha Ukpai Agha and the Africa Health Budget Network (AHBN) was led by the Coordinator, Dr. Aminu Magashi Garba. The team were received by the ONSA Director of Policy and Research and his team. We will be updating as we make progress.

Recently, the Comptroller General of the Nigeria Agricultural Quarantine Service (NAQS), Dr. Vincent Isegbe, visited the DG/CEO of the National Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA Nigeria), Agnes Yemisi Asagbra PhD. The essence of the visit was to discuss ways to strengthen partnerships and beef up monitoring of the importation of GMOs in the country. Both the Nigeria Agricultural Quarantine Service (NAQS) and the National Biosafety Management Agency have had a long-standing partnership and this visit is expected to strengthen critical areas of this partnership while beefing up entry ports in the country to curb the importation of unapproved GMOs in Nigeria.

NBMA AND NAFDAC TO RENEW COLLABORATION, STRENGTHENING CONFIDENCE IN SAFETY OF GMOs IN NIGERIA The Director-General and CEO of the National Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA Nigeria), Agnes Yemisi Asagbra PhD recently met with the Director-General and CEO of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC Nigeria), Dr. Mojisola Adeyeye to discuss revitalizing and enhancing their ongoing collaboration. The primary focus of the meeting was to reinforce the partnership between the two agencies to ensure the safety of food biotechnology in Nigeria. During the meeting, Dr. Asagbra stressed that the NBMA remains committed to upholding safety standards that protect human health, animals, and the environment. She emphasized that the agency will not issue any permits or approvals for genetically modified (GM) crops without NAFDAC’s consent, underscoring the importance of close cooperation between the two organizations. Dr. Asagbra further noted that this renewed collaboration with NAFDAC would bolster public confidence in the safety of GM crops and the regulatory activities of the NBMA. She also announced the formation of a Technical Working Group comprising members from both agencies to enhance the effectiveness of their joint efforts. In response, Dr. Adeyeye expressed her enthusiasm for the renewed collaboration, highlighting its potential to boost consumer confidence and dispel any misinformation in the media regarding genetically modified organisms (GMOs). She acknowledged that modern biotechnology is a dynamic field, and this partnership will play a crucial role in educating the public about the safety measures in place. Dr. Adeyeye also emphasized that, as regulators, both agencies must prioritize safety in their evaluations and decisions. The two leaders agreed to review the existing Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to reflect recent developments in biotechnology, ensuring that their collaboration remains robust and effective.

Recently, NBMA Nigeria, in collaboration with USDA held an agricultural biosafety and biotech communication workshop titled “Strategic Communication Training for Influencers and Reporters on Biosafety and Biotech Regulations.” The workshop was aimed at promoting scientific literacy and dispelling non-science-based narratives about the regulation of agricultural biotechnology to enhance the media's capacity to communicate complex biosafety topics to the public accurately. It was also aimed at providing in-depth knowledge of the NBMA’s role and activities in regulating agricultural biotechnology, fostering a network of informed journalists who can contribute to the national dialogue on biosafety and biotechnology, and empowering opinion influencers to effectively communicate the science, benefits, and regulatory frameworks associated with biotechnological products.

JOINT MEETING OF NBMA AND NAFDAC: STRENGTHENING COLLABORATION ON GMO SAFETY In response to recent public concerns regarding Genetically Modified (GM) foods, a pivotal meeting was convened by the Honourable Minister of State for Health, Dr. Tunji Alausa, bringing together the Director-General/CEO of National Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA) Dr Agnes Yemisi Asagbra and The Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) Prof Mojisola Adeyeye. The Honourable Minister Dr. Alausa emphasized the importance of consistent communication among government agencies to alleviate public fears. He noted the need for a collaborative approach to address safety concerns related to GM foods, referencing extensive scientific evidence supporting their safety. Dr. Agnes Yemisi Asagbra, DG of NBMA, appreciated the honourable minister for the meeting and highlighted the historical collaboration between NBMA and NAFDAC, including a Memorandum of Understanding established in 2017. She underscored that no GM food permits are issued without NAFDAC's involvement, calling for enhanced cooperative efforts to ensure food safety. In response, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, DG of NAFDAC, stated that her previous remarks on GM foods were misunderstood, emphasizing NAFDAC's commitment to safety. She reaffirmed the agency's rigorous safety standards, stating that no GM foods will be approved without thorough scientific safety assessments. Key resolutions from the meeting include: Establishing a Technical Working Group (TWG) between NBMA and NAFDAC. Developing Terms of Reference for the TWG and setting up a secretariat. Referring applicants to NBMA prior to processing by NAFDAC. Continuing collaboration on risk assessment and GM food labeling. Enhancing capacity building and training exchanges. Joint efforts in IT and Global Listing initiatives. The meeting which was aimed to reinforce collaboration between the two agencies to ensure a unified message on food safety, marks a significant step towards unified governance in food safety and public health in Nigeria. Both agencies remain committed to ensuring that scientific evidence guides their actions, fostering public trust in food safety regulations. Both DGs said that by working together, “we reaffirm our commitment to science, environmental protection and safeguarding the health of the nation”. Signed: Dr Tunji Alausa, Hon. Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, Director General, NAFDAC Dr. Agnes Yemisi Asagbra, Director General, NBMA Dr. Tunji Alausa Agnes Yemisi Asagbra PhD