Nigerians reject GMOs: Outcry grows as citizens demand immediate Government action

BY- ABIODUN  IFEOLUWA.

An impassioned wave of resistance is rising across Nigeria as citizens, civil society groups, and online communities rally against the introduction and proliferation of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in the country’s food system.

The Center for Food Safety and Agricultural Research (CEFSAR) has launched a nationwide call for urgent government intervention, warning that GMOs “threaten our food sovereignty, contaminate our biodiversity and have no long-term risk assessments to prove they are safe for human consumption.”

In response, the public has taken to social media particularly X (formerly Twitter) to voice deep concern, frustration, and defiance.

Below are the voices of a nation standing up for its right to safe, indigenous food:

“Everyone should be voting Ban GMO in Nigeria. Make your votes count and your voice heard by voting rightly. Be a part of those making a difference in your country.”
— Prolific Rachael (@Rachael_W1)

“Whoever that controls your food, controls your sovereignty…”
— Amaka (@amaka_cindyyeva)

“GMO is a biotech genocide and must not be allowed to thrive in our nation. We say #SayNoToGMOs #BanGMOsinNigeria.”
— Aquinas Cosmas (@aquinasbrand)

“We are tired of being slaves in our own country. Let’s use parts of our compounds to start organic micro farming, adopting Agroecology as a way forward because it harbours nature and accords ecosystem limits.”
— Aluya Stanley Godspower (@Afereno1988)

“We only need security for our farmers and not GMO.”
— Ezekiel Kelechi (@ezekielkelechi7)

“How is this still a reoccurring topic and issue?! Back in 2017 while I was still a staff of @daily_trust I witnessed a small protest against GMO along the Federal Secretariat in Abuja. Today, the issue has stuck around like a tumour. Why?!!”
— Vladimir Bogdan (@PlainSightcrypt)

“We don’t need Bill Gates and his cohorts of hell’s help. Africa, especially Nigeria, do not need their interference. We love our natural food, climate, water. We have our own health care and we will improve on it like China and India.”
— Yizziee07 (@IreyuwaOgh23731)

“GMO is a weapon of our re-enslavement. Once we lose our food sovereignty, then we’ve put ourselves at the mercy of Caucasian corporations who normally see us (blacks) as sub-humans. Let’s wake up and defend our existence before it’s too late.”
— Otega Eboh (@OtegaEboh)

“We shouldn’t even be talking about this — we don’t need GMO in Nigeria.”
— X-Sell-Length (@SoccersDen)

“Na human being vote for di 1% wey I see for that poll abi eye dey pain me?”
— Kenny Ozie (@kenkabulli)

“#SAYNOTOGMOs #SAYNOTOGMOs #SAYNOTOGMOs”
— Ray_West π (@AyangOkey)

“#BanGMOsinNigeria”
— T.A.K (@official_TAK)

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The message is clear: Nigerians are increasingly skeptical of biotechnology in agriculture, especially in the absence of transparency, public consent, and long-term scientific safety data.

CEFSAR has launched a public survey and petition, calling on the Nigerian government to impose an immediate moratorium on all GMO activities, invest in agroecology, and strengthen protections for indigenous farming systems.

“This is about sovereignty, safety, and our future,” said a CEFSAR spokesperson. “Our food should not be left at the mercy of foreign corporations and experiments that have not been proven safe in the long run.”

As the conversation intensifies both online and offline, policymakers are being urged to listen to the people.

The growing resistance echoes a larger continental sentiment where several African nations have already banned or restricted GMOs to protect biodiversity and local agriculture.