National Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA) has suspended the registration of four genetically modified cotton varieties following the discovery of unauthorised activities and breaches of regulatory guidelines. The affected varieties are MIC 561 BGII, MIC 563 BGII, BIOSEED-FIYAH CH1001, and BIOSEED-FIYAH CH1002. The agency cited non-compliance with biosafety protocols in the approval and registration process as the basis for the immediate suspension. NBMA stated that the decision was taken to uphold biosafety standards and ensure public health and environmental protection. The agency did not disclose which organisations were responsible for the violations or the nature of the unauthorised actions. Investigations are ongoing, and further regulatory action may follow depending on findings. The suspension takes effect immediately, halting all distribution and commercial use of the listed cotton hybrids.
The suspension of four GM cotton varieties exposes gaps in oversight even within regulated sectors. NBMA approved these hybrids before detecting the breaches, raising concerns about the rigour of initial evaluations. If regulatory lapses can occur at this level, Nigerian farmers may already be using seeds that bypassed proper scrutiny. This incident suggests that compliance checks are reactive rather than preventive, undermining confidence in the biosafety framework.
