Group lauds FG on validation of national biodiversity strategy, action plan

The Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF) has commended the Federal Government for endorsing the revised National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP), a comprehensive Government Policy with 23 national targets aimed at halting and reversing biodiversity loss by 2030.

In a statement made available to BusinessDay, HOMEF urged the Government to back the NBSAP with action, including halting GMO approvals pending a biosafety audit, reviewing the National Biosafety Management Agency Act, investing in agroecology, and supporting community seed systems.

Nnimmo Bassey, Executive Director of HOMEF, said, “We are especially encouraged by NBSAP’s firm stance on the regulation of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs), which aligns with our long-standing advocacy for biosafety and food sovereignty”.

The activist and strong voice against GMO promotion in Nigeria said, “Unregulated GMO use could be catastrophic to our environment, health, and sustainable development.”

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Joyce Brown, Director of Programme and Lead on Hunger Politics at HOMEF, said “The Strategy’s support for traditional plant breeding, non-transgenic biotechnologies, and the fair sharing of benefits from biological resources reflects a welcome policy shift.

“It affirms the rights of smallholder farmers and communities to control their seeds and food system, putting the power back in the hands of people.

“HOMEF remains committed to ensuring Nigeria’s biodiversity thrives, free from genetic pollution and corporate control,” the organisation stated.

Ruth Tene Natsa

Ruth Tene, Assistant Editor, Agric/Solid Minerals/INEC Ruth Tene is an award-winning journalist with over 15 years experience in developmental reporting across several newsrooms, as a reporter, editor and other managerial roles. She holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Journalism from the University of Maiduguri among several other certifications She has attended several trainings and certifications both locally and internationally and has been recognized for her impactful work in humanitarian reporting, receiving the Gold Award for Humanitarian Services from the Amazing Grace Foundation. She is also a recipient of the Home Alliance Fellowship, reflecting her commitment to fostering a more humane, safer and more sustainable planet. An active member of professional journalism bodies, Ruth is affiliated with the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), the National Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), and the Agricultural Correspondents Association of Nigeria (ACAN), where she continues to advocate for excellence, ethical reporting, and development-focused journalism.