Environment
RUFUS Ebegba, Director-General/Chief Executive Officer, National Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA), says the agency is geared toward strengthening its collaboration with the Nigeria Police Force in carrying out its mandate.
Ebegba made this known in a statement issued by Gloria Ogbaki, Head of Press, NBMA, in Abuja on Friday after a courtesy visit to the Commissioner of Police, FCT Command, Bala Ciroma.
He said the purpose of the meeting was to strengthen the collaboration between both organisations.
“We have come to acquaint ourselves with the new Commissioner of Police and ensure that our pre-existing collaboration with the Police continues seamlessly.
“This is to guarantee that our mandate to safeguard the use, handling and transportation of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) is carried out effectively,’’ Ebegba said.
He said that the collaboration between NBMA and the Nigeria Police comprised joint activities that ensured that illegal GMOs were appropriately confiscated and defaulters were brought to book as required by the National Biosafety Management Act 2015.
In his remarks, Ciroma gave an assurance that the collaboration between NBMA and the Nigeria Police would continue.
The commissioner said that it was part of the duty of the police to collaborate with regulatory agencies to ensure their mandates were carried out effectively.
“We understand the significance of your agency to Nigeria’s economy and how important your work is to achieving Nigeria’s food security.
“Therefore, we would do as much as possible to assist you in your responsibilities.
“We will have a better Nigeria where people can go to sleep without hunger,’’ he said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the NBMA was established in 2015 by an Act of Parliament.
It ensures adequate level of protection in the field of safe transfer, handling and use of GMOs, resulting from modern biotechnology that may have adverse effects on conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity.
It takes into account risks to human health, animals, plants and the environment. (NAN)
– July 19, 2019 @ 13:09 GMT |
Tags: Biosafety agency reinforces collaboration with Police
