THE NIGERIAN NATIONAL ASSEMBLY HOLDS PUBLIC HEARING ON

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ABUJA 002321 SIPDIS SENSITIVE DEPT PASS TO USTR - LAURIE-ANN AGAMA USDA FOR FAS/OSTA - LAWRENCE BLUM USAID FOR EGAT/ESP - ROBERT BETRAM AND JOSETTE LEWIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EAGR SENV ECON TBIO NI SUBJECT: THE NIGERIAN NATIONAL ASSEMBLY HOLDS PUBLIC HEARING ON AGRICULTURAL BIOTECHNOLOGY REF ABUJA 2016 SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED - DO NOT DISTRIBUTE OUTSIDE USG. -------------- SUMMARY -------------- ¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY: Nigerian National Assembly hosted an inaugural biosafety legislation public hearing in Lagos. The Chairmen of the House Committee on Agriculture and on Science and Technology urged legislators to move forward with the implementation of national biosafety legislation. Friends of the Earth representative spoke out against the use and development of agricultural biotechnology in Nigeria. The Nigerian Cassava Growers Association switched its backing to fully support biosafety legislation. END SUMMARY. -------------- PREVENTING HARM -------------- ¶2. (SBU) The Nigerian National Assembly held its first public hearing on the proposed biosafety legislation on December 9 in Lagos. The Chairman of the House Committee on Agriculture introduced the legislation, which seeks to establish a legal framework for the development and use of products derived through agricultural biotechnology, into the National Assembly. A wide array of stakeholders, including representatives of farmers associations, non-government organizations, research institutes, academia and concerned federal government agencies attended the day-long hearing. (NOTE: The proposed legislation was developed through USAID financial and technical support in collaboration with other USG agencies. END NOTE). ¶3. (SBU) The Chairmen of the House Committees on Agriculture and Science and Technology organized the hearing and invited key stakeholders to testify in support of the legislation, including Federal Ministers of Agriculture, Environment, Science and Technology and Health. The Ministry of Environment and Q@QN0QlzQ0EQdQGmde formal submissions in q1N^NQ Nigeria. He spoke positively about his visits to the United States, China and the Philippines to observe how application of the technology is regulated in other countries. Chairman of the House Committee on Science and Technology Abiodun Akinlade echoed his support for use of biotechnology. ¶5. (SBU) The Director General of the Biotechnology Development Agency (NABDA) and a researcher from the Ahmedu Bello University (ABU) Biotech Research Center in Zaria, which is currently conducting field trials on genetically modified cowpea, advocated for the passage of the proposed legislation. (NOTE: The Mission, in partnership with NABDA, conducted a successful public outreach on biotechnology (see reftel),targeting legislatures, scientists, policy makers, and the media in September 2009. END NOTE). A representative of the non-governmental organization Friends of the Earth, which operates in several West African countries, spoke against the use and development of agricultural biotechnology in Nigeria. -------------- SWITCHING SIDES -------------- ¶6. (SBU) The head of the Nigerian Cassava Growers Association (NCGA),who at the beginning sided with Friends of the Earth in rejecting the legislation, changed her position and supported the Qrejecting the legislation, changed her position and supported the bill after hearing all the presentations. She admitted that she was misinformed about agricultural biotechnology and promised to inform its members about the deliberations and to encourage them to support the legislation. (NOTE: The NCGA representative was not aware that cassava is one of two commodities currently approved by NABDA for biotechnology field trials in Nigeria. END NOTE). -------------- COMMENT -------------- ¶7. (SBU) The biosafety legislation, which has been six years in the making, has reached an important landmark by going through a ABUJA 00002321 002 OF 002 successful public hearing at the National Assembly. Key National Assembly committee chairmen have promised to shepherd the bill further through the legislative process in the coming legislative calendar commencing early in 2010. It is doubtful that the biosafety legislation would have reached this far without the USG support in drafting the legislation as well as sensitizing key stakeholders through a public outreach program. ¶8. Embassy Abuja coordinated this cable with FAS in Consulate Lagos. SANDERS