Biotechnology is as old as man. The old techniques involve the use of whole organisms for the benefit of man. The modern techniques are primarily concerned with modification of whole organisms, their genome or DeoxyriboNucleic Acid (DNA) for profit. Nigeria is endowed with diverse biodiversity some of which are unique to our ecosystems. While the short term economic benefits can easily be predicted, the long term health and environmental costs are largely unknown. Currently our communities are vulnerable to Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs). They are exposed to these organisms in agro-seeds, vaccines, foods and other essentials of life. Nigeria lack the capacity to compete and make significant contributions in the already established and fast evolving market of bio-opportunities. Consequently there is urgent need to safeguard our bio-resources against predatory advances of profit seeking multinationals. These resources and the indigenous bioengineering skills for their management are in custody of diverse communities across Nigeria. Therefore it is critical to sensitize and concientize all stakeholders on the import of biosafety and the necessity of collaboration in evolving a National Strategy for development and management of local bio-resources. This paper reviewed global and local bio-safety issues and propose a local action plans for rural communities. These strategies when implemented will safeguard our bio-resources for the future.

1. Biosafety in Nigeria: Strategy
for Local Communities
By
Abdullahi, Yusuf Rigasa
Department of Microbiology, Kaduna State University, Kaduna,
Nigeria
Abdurrahman, Idris
Department of Microbiology, Kaduna State University, Kaduna,
Nigeria
Shittu, Aliyu Umar
Department of Textiles technology and Fashion Design, Kaduna
Polytechnic, Nigeria

2. Outline
• Background
• What Is Biosafety
• Why Biosafety?
• What are The Issues?
• Who are the stakeholders?
• The Proposed Strategy
• Conclusions and Recommendations

3. The Possibilities

4. The ultimate, The superman
The Reality, The Pig man

5. Background
• GMOs are produced by multinationals for
profit
• Our communities are vulnerable to
negative impacts of GMOs
• Local and Institutional framework not
adequate
• There is need to develop a community
based biosafety framework

6. Objective
To provide a community based
framework for protection and
conservation of local bioresources

7. What is biosafety?
Avoidance of risk to human health and safety to
the conservation of the environment, as a result
of the use for research and commerce of GMOs

8. Why Biosafety?
• Biosafety is a big business
• Our communities are vulnerable
• Local rules are inadequate/ ineffective
• Global and local responsibilities
(Conventions/ treaties)
• Money

9. What are the issues?
• Possible harm to human health and safety
• Survival and persistence of GMOs in soil
• Monitoring of the survival and spread of
GMOs
• Gene transfer
• Effect of GMOs on ecosystems
• Bio ‐ Ethics

10. The issues
Genetically Modified
Organism Released
No Risk
Novel Traits, position Mutation,
Altered gene expression
Transgenes passed to
other organism
Altered Ecological
Properties
Harm to other species in the
Environment
Adverse Habitat
modification
Risks
Competitive Exclusion
of Natives
Accelerated Pest and Pathogen
Evolution

11. Who are Stakeholders
• Federal Ministry of Environment (FMEnv)
• The Ecological Fund Office
• States Ministries of Environment (SMEnv)/ States
Environmental Protection Agencies (SEPAs)
• Local Government Environmental Health Offices
(LEHO)
• Universities and Research Institutes
• Environmental Consultants
• Communities
EVERYBODY

12. The Proposed Strategy
FMEnv
1 Focal point office
SMEnv/ SEPA
37 Regional Focal point office
Universities
124
LEHO
774 Focal point offices
All communities
Research Institutes
42
Green
Communities
Consultants
Ecological Fund
1 Office

13. Conclusion and Recommendations
• GMOs can be beneficial to our communities
• Our communities are vulnerable to long term
negative impact of GMOs (which are largely
unknown)
• Local institutions/ regulations are inadequate
• The
proposed
framework
will
help
communities safeguard their bioresources
• Community
participation
is
strongly
recommended in the formulation of local
biosafety rules and standards

14. Thank you for Listening