Nigeria’s biotechnology and biosafety stakeholders validated and adopted national guidelines on the regulation of genetically modified plants with stacked genes, on 25 July 2022 in Abuja. The objective of these guidelines is to provide guidance and information on the risk assessment and risk management requirements and procedures for plants with Genetically Modified (GM) stacked events through traditional breeding or molecular techniques. Gene Stacking refers to the combination of two or more genes of interest in the genome of a single plant 

The guidelines were adopted during a deliberation meeting that brought together officials of the National Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA), Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), National Agricultural Seed Council (NASC), Nigeria Agricultural Quarantine Service (NAQS), National Biotechnology Development Agency (NABDA), Open Forum on Agricultural Biotechnology (OFAB), African Union Development Agency-NEPAD  (AUDA-NEPAD), Program for Biosafety Systems (PBS), University of Abuja, Federal Competition, Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) amongst others.

According to the Director General-CEO of the National Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA), Dr. Rufus Ebegba, the newly adopted document will guide the NBMA in the evaluation of biosafety applications for genetically modified crops with multiple genes, to ensure that the products from this technology are safe for human consumption and the environment. He stated that the guidelines are to ensure that the genes that are inserted into these GM products confer the expected benefits with no increase in risk compared to their conventional counterparts.

Speaking on behalf of the African Union Development Agency-NEPAD (AUDA-NEPAD), a partner of the NBMA in building functional biosafety regulatory tools, Mr. Samuel Timpo, Principal Programme Officer of AUDA-NEPAD, commended Nigeria and the NBMA for the continually developing regulatory tools that align with international standards and best practices. He further commended the NBMA for an inclusive, participatory and consultative process that led to a fit-for-purpose outcome. He also reiterated AUDA-NEPAD’s commitment to continued fruitful cooperation with the NBMA, government institutions, and other stakeholders.