Influencing Politicians and Policy Makers for a Viable Biotechnology Sector: A case Study of the Nigerian Biosafety Bill Drafting, and Passage Process at the Parliament

Abstract

As worldwide adoption of genetically modified crops (GMOs) continues to grow at a double-digit rate, there remains uncertainty, confusion, apprehension, and resistance to the technology in some African countries including Nigeria. Noteworthy, however, is that the Federal Government of Nigeria adopted biotechnology policy in April 2001 and later in November of the same year; the National Biotechnology Development Agency was formed as a parastatal under the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology. The Agency was set up to domesticate and promote modern Biotechnology tools and products. The safe practice of this technology requires a biosafety law in place. The Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety requires parties to it to develop their Biosafety Administrative and Regulatory Framework in order to effectively regulate activities of agricultural biotechnology. A National Biosafety Framework under the UNEP/GEP by the Federal Government of Nigeria, which included, among other things, the National Biosafety Policy Biosafety Bill, was developed in 2006. The House of Representatives and Senate passed the Draft Biosafety Bill in July 2010 and June 2011 respectively. This Bill got transmitted to President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan for assent but was not assented to because the tenure of the National Assembly that passed it ended a day after the Bill got passed. It has been returned to the 7th Assembly, which is in Session right now and receiving attention after which President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan will finally pass it. This paper attempts to present the experience and the road map of the enactment of Biosafety Law in Nigeria.