Niger Delta
Foundation Leads Campaign Against Genetically Modified Foods In Edo
Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF) on Friday led a campaign rally in Edo State to raise awareness about the dangers of introducing Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) into Nigeria’s food system.
The campaign took place in collaboration with the GMO-Free Nigeria Alliance and members of the Edo Civil Society Organisations (EDOCSO).
The rally, which started from the National Museum at Ring Road, Benin, made its way to the Edo House of Assembly, state office of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, and to the Government House.
At the Government House, the Chief Security Officer to the Governor, Solomon Oseghale, received a petition against the introduction of GMOs on behalf of the state government.
The petition called on the government to reconsider its decision to approve GMOs and to prioritise the health and well-being of Nigerians.
The Executive Director of HOMEF, Dr. Nnimmo Bassey, said the rally took place simultaneously in Rivers, Katsina, Plateau, Oyo, Lagos, Cross Rivers, Enugu, Jigawa States and the FCT.
According to him, Nigeria does not need GMOs to address food insecurity.
He asserted that the design of the genetically modified crops does not support local economic growth but promote dependency on corporate seed supply.
“In September 2024, the National Cotton Association of Nigeria (NACOTAN) was reported to have recorded no significant increase in yields when compared to the local seed varieties.
“Instead, the introduction of GM cotton seeds over four years ago, yield per hectare has remained about the same.
“Also, the farmers noted that no other plant has been able to germinate on the farmlands where the GM seeds were planted, even after four years.
“This confirms the concerns regarding loss of biodiversity and soil degradation due to release of genetic material (proteins) into the soil which would not ordinarily occur”, he said.
Bassey decried that farmers were not able to replant the GM seeds after harvest due to declining yields.
He said farmers were encouraged to continuously purchase the seeds every new season from corporate entities.
He said this reflected neo-colonialism and corporate capture of our food system -something we shouldn’t take lightly.
On his part, Ifeanyi Nwankwere, National Co-coordinator of the GMO-Free Nigeria Alliance, noted that GMOs approved in Nigeria, so far were not currently being labelled.
Heb said Nigeria’s socio-economic context would not allow labelling to be effective considering how food was sold in cups and basins in open markets where majority of our people shop from.
Nwankwere noted that the biosafety regulatory system in Nigeria was not designed in a way that assures safety with regard to GMOs.
Similarly, Mr Agho Omobude, Coordinator of the Edo Civil Society Organisations (EDOCSO), said the rally aimed to educate the public about the risks associated with GMOs.
Omobude stressed that genetically modified foods are poisonous and pose a significant threat to the health and well-being of Nigerians.
He dismissed the claim that GMOs could ensure food sufficiency, describing it as a lie and a ploy to colonise Nigeria’s food system.
He bemoaned the approval of 14 genetically modified foods in Nigeria, which had been a staple in all households over the years.
Mr Cadmus Atake-Enade of the HOMEF advocated legislation that would outlaw the sale of genetically modified foods in Edo and Nigeria at large.
He expressed concerns that some super markets in the state were reportedly selling the products without providing the customers with information about them.
The source reports that the rally featured distribution of leaflets containing anti-GMO information.
The campaigners also displayed placards with various inscriptions such as, “Nigerians reject GMOs”, “#FoodnotPoison”, “Food Should Not Be Grown In A Lab”, “Support Small Scale Farmers”, “What We Eat Must Not Eat Us”, among others.
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The Rivers State Government says plans are on to embark on massive infrastructural development of 42 tourists sites to position the state as Nigeria’s premier tourism destination.
The State Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Dr. Isreal Ngbuelo, disclosed this in Port Harcourt, weekend, during a meeting with representatives of the state’s 23 Local Government Areas (LGA).
He explained that the State Government’s decision to develop the sites was driven by the need to boost revenue generation and create employment opportunities across the state.
According to Ngebuelo, the project is already underway, starting with the recent collaboration with the Landmark Group to re-develop the Port Harcourt Tourist Beach.
“The re-development aims to restore Rivers State’s former glory and establish it as a leading destination for leisure, hospitality, and tourism on a global scale”, he stated.
The Commissioner noted that the government convened the meeting with the LGA representatives to discuss the establishment of Culture and Tourism Committees in each council.
He said Councils would be responsible for identifying various tourist sites within their respective LGAs and reporting them to the State Government.
Ngbuelo added that the State Governor, Siminilayi Fubara, was committed to transforming the state’s culture and tourism sector into a globally competitive industry.
“We want to reduce our over dependence on oil, especially as many economies around the world are now thriving without crude oil.
“Our focus is on harnessing the cultural and economic potential of our tourist sites to generate revenue for both the state and local governments,” Ngebuelo added.
He highlighted some of the key tourists sites slated for development to include the Opobo Beach and Ken Saro-Wiwa Memorial Park.
Ngbuelo also revealed plans to revive the state’s annual cultural festival, CARNIRIV, which traditionally takes place every December.
“The return of CARNIRIV will further boost tourism and the creative industry, discouraging fun seekers from travelling out of Rivers State, particularly during festive periods,” he concluded.
Responding on behalf of the council representatives, Mr. Odimabo Torukwin, Vice Chairman of Akuku-Toru Local Government Council, commended the State Government for its bold initiative to revamp the tourism sector.
He emphasised that the plan would have a positive socio-economic impact, significantly reducing unemployment and stimulating economic growth in communities.
Wokoma Emmanuel & Theresa Frederick
Niger Delta
Fubara, Strategically Picked To Unveil New Bayelsa NLC/TUC House – Diri … As Bayelsa Spends N20bn On Gratuity
Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye, has said that his Rivers State counterpart, Siminalayi Fubara, was deliberately picked to unveil the newly built Secretariat of the organized Labour in the state, comprising the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC).
Diri, who gave the explanation recently, during the inauguration of the new Secretariat on Bayelsa, said the Rivers State Governor was picked because of his workers-friendly disposition to Rivers worker.
“My brother, and Rivers counterpart, His Excellency Siminalayi Fubara was deliberately chosen to inaugurate this Secretariat building due to his commitment to the welfare of workers in Rivers State as a career civil servant who attained the peak of his career before becoming Governor”, he said.
Diri further said “Governor Fubara has served meritoriously as a career civil servant and attained the peak of his career before becoming Governor”.
According to him, “the edifice symbolised the harmonious relationship between labour and my administration”.
He stated that more would be achieved when there is industrial harmony, noting that workers’ welfare had always been a top priority of his administration.
“When we came on board, the issue of outstanding gratuities and pensions were on the front burner. We immediately made it a matter of policy to ensure that our senior citizens were respected by paying their arrears over the years.
“At this fifth anniversary of our administration, we have paid over N20 billion as gratuity and pension to retired citizens and we will continue to ensure that they receive them. Before we leave office, we would have cleared the backlog.
Speaking on the issue of more homogenous states for the Ijaw ethnic nationality, the Bayelsa Governor urged the Ijaw National Congress (INC) to work towards the creation of Toru-Ebe and Oil River states.
He noted that the balkanisation of the Ijaws into different states has given them a minority status in those states, stressing that only Bayelsa was created out of the three states demanded by the Ijaws.
He also stated that it was an anomaly for Bayelsa to have only eight local government areas, saying it was an injustice that should be corrected by the Federal Government.
According to him, the creation of local government areas should have been the responsibility of states based on their ability and capacity to fund the number they create and not the current situation where local governments were created by the Federal Government and funded with the resources from the states.
In his remarks, Governor Siminalayi Fubara commended the Diri administration’s worker-friendly posture.
He advised labour to work harmoniously with the government, adding that they would be the most affected if there was industrial crisis.
He said his administration would continue to work with his Bayelsa counterpart in the interest and development of both states.
“For about 16 years, there was friction between Rivers and Bayelsa states but under my administration, we will work with you bearing in mind that you are a sister state and whatever the issues were, we have settled out of court”, Governor Fubara said.
In their joint address, presidents of the NLC and TUC, represented by former Bayelsa State NLC Chairman, Comrade Ebipre Ndiomu, and Austin Jonah, respectively, said the edifice was a testament of the collaborative effort between labour and government and would be used to strategize, and advance the cause of labour.
The labour leaders also appreciated Diri for his worker-friendly policies and urged workers to reciprocate the gesture through increased productivity.
In his address, the Commissioner for Labour, Employment and Productivity, Chief Odoko Omiloli, explained that the NLC and TUC complex was a double-winged and double-annexed one-storey building that would serve as a one-stop structure for the activities of trade unions in the state.
Chief Omiloli, who said the project was inherited from the previous administration of Senator Seriake Dickson, added that it was revalidated and awarded in December 2022 to January Aboroebi Nigeria Limited, an indigenous construction firm.
Ariwera Ibibo-Howells, Yenagoa
Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, has inaugurated 56 new Toyota Hiace buses for the revived Edoline Transport Service.
This is contained in a statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr. Fred Itua, in Benin.
Okpebholo also inaugurated 38 new Toyota Hilux vans and 16 Prado Jeeps, for security agencies in the state to fight crime.
Former Edo State Governor, Sen. Adams Oshiomhole, who was at the event, commended the Governor for his achievements in 100 days in office.
Oshiomhole said Okpebholo had achieved what he could not accomplish as governor during his time.
He commended the courage, determination, and bravery of Okpebholo for reviving the state-owned transport service.
For the security vehicles, he said criminals were mobile, and security agencies charged with fighting crimes must be mobile too to match them.
“I am happy that you speak less and do more for Edo people. The security vehicles have been equipped with communication gadgets, and our security agencies have all it takes to fight crime”, he said.
The Commissioner of Police, Betty Otimenyin, lauded the Governor for the vehicles.
“We thank the Governor for matching words with actions by providing security agencies with vehicles, especially now that we are embarking on Operation Rescue at the instance of the state government”, she said.
Other dignitaries at the event include the Deputy Governor, Mr. Dennis Idahosa; Minister of Works, Dave Umahi; Secretary to the State Government, Musa Ikhilor; and Chief of Staff, Gani Audu.
