Stories by Helen Oji, Abuja—
As part eff orts to brace up the activities of the National Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA), the DirectorGeneral, Dr. Rufus Ebegba has called for synergy with the FCT Police Command on the enforcement and regulation of genetically modified products in the country. He made this call during a courtesy visit to the FCT Police Commissioner, Sadiq Abubakar Bello, in his offi ce in Abuja.
He said the Police are key to the operations of the agency in terms of enforcement. “Th e Nigeria Police Force is always the fi rst when we are looking at enforcement; this is because the law establishing the Agency says enforcement must be done in company of the Nigerian police,” he added.
“Th e agency is regulating a very critical sector hence the need for the police to s y n e r g i s e w i t h t h e Agency,” he stressed. Ebegba, commended the FCT police command for its critical role in maintaining peace within and around the FCT and assured that the agency is ready to partner with the command in other to ensure the safety of Nigerians.
H e a l s o u s e d t h e opportunity of the visit to inform the Commissioner of the preparedness of NBMA to train men and officers of the police on core activities of the agency especially as it relates to enforcement. Earlier his remark, the FCT Police Commissioner Sadiq Abubakar Bello, commended the effort of the Agency in ensuring that food and crops coming into the country and those produced within the country are safe for the people and the environment.
He noted that, with the existing corporation between the Command and the Agency, much will be done to ensure compliance to the mandate of NBMA, adding that he will ensure his men and offi cers work with the Agency to attain its mandate.
