The Minister of State for Environment, Chief Sharon Ikeazor, has said that the National Biosecurity Policy and Action Plan was articulated to reinvigorate the country’s commitment to the protection of national sovereignty, human and biodiversity security and the wellbeing of the citizenry.
Ikeazor, who said this at the unveiling of the National Biosecurity Policy and Action Plan 2022-2026 in Abuja on Tuesday, February 8, 2022, noted that the policy would help in improving areas of infrastructure, technology and advocacies as frontiers to ensure prevention and preparedness to biothreats.
Ikeazor eulogised the National Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA) for its achievements over the few years of existence.
“NBMA is always making Nigeria proud, and this policy document reflects it, and occupying an enviable position in the meeting of biosafety matters in Africa is a worthwhile achievement any federal agency should aspire.
‘’I am honestly happy to unveil this policy document today as I look forward to seeing full implementation of it and all relevant agencies should please, encourage implementation of this policy document for our common good,” she said.
The Director-General/CEO, NBMA, Dr Rufus Ebegba, at the unveiling and presentation of the approved Biosecurity Policy document and Action Plan hinted that the determination and commitment of the federal government to secure the country has placed Nigeria among the community of nations working assiduously to overcome biothreats.
Ebegba also ascribed the development to the diligence of the staff and the support the agency gets from various organisations from within and outside Nigeria.
He added that the NBMA would ensure the realisation of its mandate by developing more measures and guidelines that will enforce compliance of the NBMA Act which encourages the activities of modern biotechnology to enhance the national economy.
The representative of the World Health Organisation (WHO), Rex Mpazanye, in a goodwill message rated the Nigerian biosafety system the best so far on the African continent as he encouraged the national body to keep up the momentum.
