BIOSAFETY: Nigeria Gets WHO Backing On National Biosecurity Policy

The Federal Government has secured the support of the World Health Organization (WHO) towards the completion of the National Policy Document of Nigerian Biosecurity.

This was revealed by the WHO Country Representative, at the Second National Review Meeting of the Draft National Biosecurity Policy Action Plan, convened by the National Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA), in Abuja.

It is an approval of the NBMA’s poise and strictness in the application of guidelines for regulating the introduction of chemicals for farming and biological purposes in the country.

In his address the NBMA Director-General Dr Rufus Ebegba, said the issue of biosecurity has inevitably become a global issue, taking into cognisance the recent outbreak of various diseases which is a result of infectious organisms.

He said “The issue of biosecurity cuts across boundaries. The world must stand together to ensure that infectious organisms are properly contained.

“We recognise the role played by WHO that has supported this process right from the zero draft presentation, first presentation and this current presentation for review.

“The role of the WHO shows that they have the world at large as their territory. WHO has a major role to play to ensure that everyone on earth is secured. It is that role that is playing by supporting this process,”

Speaking further, Dr Ebegba stated that “the NBMA mandate was expanded in 2019 to include the issues of biosecurity, and the agency is going to play the role of coordination.

We are aware that there are various ministries, agencies and departments playing various roles on issues on biosecurity, these roles will remain with those organizations, we will support those roles, and this policy is to strengthen those roles and the law to ensure that anyone that uses biological agents maliciously will be prosecuted and the person or organization will face the full wrath of the law.

Nigeria as a country must be secured; it is on that note that the federal government sees the issue of this national biosecurity policy as a major national assignment.”

The World Health Organization through its Country Representative who was represented by Dr Philip Zoto, expressed hope that the policy document is going to be completed and presented to the Federal Executive Council before the end of the year, so that it will become a working document for Nigeria.
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He said “the policy document is one of the best in global practices, considering the fact that the world is experiencing a prominent increase in the rate of diseases transferred from animal to man which is affecting the human race.

“So, all over the world, people are coming together under the One Health approach. People from the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Environment, Agriculture, come together under one health approach and ensure that human beings are protected against all biothreats and biohazards.

“WHO will continue to support the Federal government of Nigeria to ensure that the policy document is completed before the end of this year, and become a working document”, he noted.

In its remarks, Ministry of Environment through its Permanent Secretary represented by Mrs Bolanle Ajayi, said “this journey so far in developing this policy to meet international best practices taking into consideration our national priorities has been worthwhile.

“An achievement credited to collective consciousness to safeguard our ecosystem from threats arising from intentional or unintentional use of valuable biological materials.”