CSOs query plans to release genetically- engineered mosquitoes
More than 75 environmental civil society organisations from Nigeria, Africa and other countries have condemned moves to open way for the release of genetically-modified mosquitoes to control malaria infection.
Speaking at a virtual meeting of the West African Integrated Vector Management Programme on June 6, vice chairman of the programme said, Mr. Rufus Ebegba: “There is the need to accelerate the development of regulatory pathways for genetically based vector control methods such as transgenic mosquitoes.”
The groups in a statement issued on Monday in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, warned against the safety of introduction of the transgenic mosquitoes and other risky, and unproven technologies into Nigeria.
The statement was signed by the Director of Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF), Mr. Nnimmo Bassey, who spoke on behalf of the groups.
They said such technologies may pose serious risks to humans, biodiversity and ecosystem balance.
The groups noted that there were currently no peer review assessments for these transgenic mosquitoes, no international protocols for evaluating their safety implications and that the technology was dependent on and controlled by corporate bodies.
“Those regulatory pathways for genetically engineered vector control of mosquitoes are actually rigged pathways to make our environment the test ground for the risky and needless experimentation.
“From our experience with genetically modified food crops in Nigeria, having the provisions in place to regulate the release of such organisms is equivalent to express permits for their introduction.
“The agency responsible for this regulation acts more like a promoter of the technology than a regulator.
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“Nigeria must show leadership in the protection of African biodiversity and not allow an agency of government run amok with whatever technologies promoters suggest to it,” Bassey said in the statement.
