The Federal Government has approved the environmental release and open cultivation of a genetically-modified maize across the country.
The crop, known as ‘Tela’ Maize, is a new maize variety developed by researchers at the Institute for Agricultural Research (IAR), Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.
This was announced in a statement by the Communications Officer, African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF), West and Central Africa, Alex Abutu; and IAR’s Information Officer, Yakubu Dodo on Sunday.
The new variety of maize is resistant to armyworm, stem borers, and is also tolerant to moderate drought.
The statement said the approval was contained in a certificate issued to IAR by the National Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA).
“The certificate, dated October 8, 2021, with permit code no. NBMA/CM/003 was issued to IAR for General\Commercial Release of Tela maize, effective from October 8, 2021, to October 5, 2024,” the statement said.
It said NBMA considered the advice of the National Biosafety Committee, the National Biosafety Technical Sub-Committee, and the risk management report provided by the applicant before granting the approval.
“The agency was convinced that there are no known adverse impacts to the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity, taking into account risk to human health.
“The permit, pursuant to this decision, is without prejudice to other extant legal requirements,” according to the statement.
It stated that the permit authorised the holder and persons covered by the permit to commercialise the Tela maize variety.
The Tela maize project in Nigeria was part of an international consortium coordinated by AATF, involving Bayer, International Maize and Wheat Improvement Centre (CIMMYT), and the National Agricultural Research Systems of seven countries in 2018 that included Ethiopia, Kenya, Mozambique, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania, and Uganda.
