As a proponent of advancing beneficial science and technology policies and institutions, I congratulate Nigeria's Senate for passing their country's Biosafety Bill into law. I'd like to encourage President Goodluck Jonathan to assend to the approved Bill into law.

To opponents of modern biotech which is merely a tool: Please tell the truth about the sound science behind GMOs if you know it or care 2know at all. For Mariann Bassey to say the approval results from a hidden foreign agenda to legalise GM organisms, is a blantant abuse to Nigeria's trained & professional molecular scientists who shall/are develop(ing) GM crops for the benefit of Nigeria. GM technologies cannot be released & commercialized without such a law. E.g, the GM cow-pea being developed in Nigeria is meant 2address a problem largely peculiar to Nigeria & threatening to wipe out this very important food-crop. What is the alternative technology solution Marriane or her likes have developed or proposed for cow-peas? In Nov. 2010, I was part of a delegation of Sub Saharan Africans - MPs, scribes, NGO leaders & farmers--who visited Burkina Faso, to see for ourselves progress of Bt (GM) cotton developed against bollworms. Its memorable 2have seen large bales of harvested Bt cotton pulled by carts from plantations 2homes,stores & ginneries.One Nigerian legislator commented:"How can an economic & intellectual giant like Nigeria come all the way 2such a smaller & poorer Burkina Faso 2learn biotech! Its a shame; a big challenge.We've to pass our biotech law & develop our own capacities..!!" Marriane's call 2H.E Jonathan 2withhold his assent until the bill has been subjected 2public scrutiny, may carry water if & only if she has evidence that there was no public-wide consultations. Otherwise, a DNA-based technology provides organic products & hence contributes 2sustainable agriculture!! What real threat do GMOs pose 2sustainable agric? GM crops are grown on small-scale too.Imaginations that GM are 4multinationals.

That is a bold step from the Nigerian Senate, which most African states have failed to take i.e to define how they want to regulate this controversal technology. Really whether we do or don't want to use the technology, a law must be in place to define who acts against such a law instead of operating in a legal and regulatory vaccuum. The longer the laws are delayed, the more people are at the risk of consuming unregulated biotech products.