News
FG Okays PBR Cowpea, Nigeria’s First GMO Food Crop
Federal government has approved the commercial release of the nation’s first GMO food crop- pod-borer resistant (PBR) cowpea.
According to Genetic Literacy Project (GLP), an organization dedicated to promoting public awareness and discussion of genetics, biotechnology, evolution and science literacy, National Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA) , Nigeria`s biotechnology regulatory body, has confirmed that the genetically modified (GM) crop is safe for human consumption, poses minimal risk to the environment, and by extension should be commercialized and adopted by the nation’s farmers.
The PBR cowpea was developed by scientists at the Institute for Agricultural Research (IAR), Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria-Nigeria, in response to the devastating threat of Maruca Vitrata, a pod-boring insect that can lead to up to 80% yield losses in cowpea, an important source of protein for millions of people in Nigeria and West Africa.
GM foods are developed – and marketed – because there is some perceived advantage either to the producer or consumer of these foods
GLP quoted Dr. Mohammed Lawal, PBR cowpea trial manager at the IAR, as saying that the pod-boring insect Maruca Vitrata is the major constraint limiting the production of cowpea by Nigerian farmers. Consequently, Nigeria – the largest producer of cowpea in Africa – imports about 500, 000 tons of cowpea to meet national consumption demands, costing the nation billions of naira annually.
“Maruca Vitrata is the most notorious insect affecting cowpea production in Nigeria and farmers have to spray large amounts of insecticides on their farms. Thus, scientists have tried to develop a variety that is resistant to the Maruca pod-boring insect using conventional scientific methods, but all efforts proved unsuccessful,” Lawal said.
Following a decade of intensive research and field trials, scientists at the IAR developed the new PBR cowpea variety using genetic engineering.
The genetically modified cowpea, also known as Bt cowpea, contains the crystal protein ‘Cry1Ab gene’ from the natural soil bacterium Bacillus Thuringiensis (BT), which is toxic to the insect and thus confers high resistance to the crop.
“The PBR cowpea project was initiated to develop a cowpea variety with a built-in defense mechanism against the Maruca insect pest. That gave us the opportunity to use a gene from a harmless soil bacterium, Bacillus Thuringiensis (BT), which is found everywhere. It has been used traditionally by farmers to protect their vegetable crops in the past,” explained Prof. Mohammad Ishiyaku, principal investigator of the PBR cowpea cum executive director of the IAR.
Last December, the Nigerian government approved the commercial release of the new PBR cowpea variety called ‘SAMPEA 20-T’.
The decision to release the new genetically modified PBR cowpea variety means that farmers will have access to the seeds this 2020 planting season. The PBR cowpea will help to significantly reduce the number of sprays that farmers currently apply to their crops from between 6 and 8 times to only 2 times per cropping season. Consequently, farmers will obtain higher yields both in quantity and quality, boosting national productivity by an average of 350kg/hectare.
“The PBR cowpea requires less use of insecticides which are expensive and harmful to human health and environment. As a result, Nigeria will save a substantial amount of money – about 16 billion naira per 1 million hectares annually – if the PBR cowpea is planted by farmers,” said Ishiyaku.
While speaking to the Genetic Literacy Project (GLP), Ishiyaku noted that the successful release of the PBR cowpea could be attributed greatly to its economic potential and environmental benefits; agronomic performance; as well as rigorous tests and studies conducted by Nigerian scientists and the biotechnology regulatory body, which has found the crop to be safe for human consumption
One forthcoming study conducted by African economists and agricultural experts in five countries – Nigeria, Uganda, Tanzania, Ghana, and Ethiopia – under a project called the Biotechnology and Biosafety Rapid Assessment and Policy Platform (BioRAPP) provided policymakers with predictive economic information about how crops improved through biotechnology can benefit the economy, based on data generated locally in the respective countries. In Nigeria, the study shows that the adoption of the PBR cowpea could add up to $638 million to the economy within a period of six years.
Founded in 2009, the Nigeria chapter of the Open Forum on Agricultural Biotechnology (OFAB) in Africa, an initiative of the African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF), has been working to enhance knowledge-sharing and public awareness on agricultural biotechnology – as part of efforts to ensure the successful deployment of genetically modified crops in Nigeria.
Dr. Rose Gidado, country director of OFAB Nigeria, noted that the platform played a significant role in the successful approval of the PBR cowpea by raising awareness on biotechnology through its various programmes aimed at enlightening the public as well as policymakers about the benefits of GM technology and also dispelling the misinformation spread by anti-GMO groups in Nigeria.
“We have been creating awareness and sharing credible information using different media strategies such as social media, TV and radio programs as well as ‘seeing is believing’ tours for farmers and journalists to see how biotechnology works. This has greatly enhanced the public understanding of agricultural biotechnology in Nigeria,” said Gidado.
“Now, we are receiving several calls and messages from the public asking how they could have access to the PBR cowpea. The farmers are eager to plant the seeds.”
In a significant move towards accelerating the Federal Government’s digital transformation agenda, the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (HCSF), Mrs. Didi Esther Walson-Jack, paid a strategic working visit to Galaxy Backbone (GBB) Limited, Nigeria’s foremost ICT infrastructure and shared services provider.
The visit, which took place at GBB’s National Shared Services Centre (NSSC) and Corporate Headquarters in Abuja, forms part of the HCSF’s efforts to deepen collaboration and assess the technological infrastructure supporting the government’s ongoing digitalisation reforms across Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs).
Accompanied by the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy (FMCIDE), Mr. Adeladan Rafi’u Olarinre, and a delegation of Permanent Secretaries and Directors from the Office of the Head of the Civil Service, the visit featured an extensive tour of GBB’s cutting-edge Digital Infrastructure facilities. These included its Network Operations Centre (NOC), Security Operations Centre (SOC), and Uptime Institute Certified Tier III Data Centre; all built to ensure a secure, scalable, and sovereign digital infrastructure for Nigeria’s public sector.
In his welcome address, Mr. Adeladan Rafi’u Olarinre described Galaxy Backbone as a critical institution under the supervision of FMCIDE, tasked with providing the nation’s core digital infrastructure and shared ICT services. “Today’s visit is an important opportunity to showcase the significant progress GBB has made in building the infrastructure necessary for a truly digital government,” he said.
“I believe this engagement will foster stronger alignment and collaboration between MDAs and GBB as we move towards a more connected and efficient public service.”
The Managing Director/CEO of Galaxy Backbone, Professor Ibrahim A. Adeyanju, expressed appreciation for the visit, noting its alignment with GBB’s mandate to support Nigeria’s digital transformation goals.
“A visit of this nature by the Head of the Civil Service is highly symbolic,” he remarked. “It reinforces the central role that the Civil Service plays in national development and highlights the importance of strategic ICT infrastructure in driving effective governance.”
He went on to emphasize that GBB’s mission to design, build, and manage Nigeria’s digital infrastructure aligns seamlessly with the Civil Service’s digital reform agenda.
“Our platforms; including the 1Government Cloud, GovMail, and our extensive fibre optic network present in 28 states, are designed to support a digitally enabled, secure, and efficient government,” Prof. Adeyanju added.
He also called for greater collaboration with the Office of the Head of Service to drive the adoption of GBB’s infrastructure, particularly the fibre optic connectivity already terminated at Federal Secretariat buildings across 28 states of the country. He further appealed for support in expanding Local Area Networks (LANs) in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) secretariat buildings to integrate more MDAs into the digital ecosystem.
In her remarks, Mrs. Walson-Jack commended the world-class infrastructure and strategic digital solutions developed by Galaxy Backbone, stating that her perception of the agency had been greatly enhanced following the tour.
“This visit has opened my eyes to the enormous potential and capacity that Galaxy Backbone brings to Nigeria’s digital journey,” she said. “I now see GBB not just as an ICT agency, but as a strategic partner in the realisation of our dream to build a modern, agile, and paperless civil service.”
She specifically praised GBB’s support for the “War Room” initiative, the widespread deployment of GovMail — currently serving over 34,000 civil servants, and the agency’s high-speed fibre connectivity provided during the 2025 International Civil Service Week hosted by her office.
Reaffirming her office’s commitment to achieving a fully paperless civil service by December 31, 2025, the Head of Service expressed optimism that this goal is attainable with stronger collaboration and technical support from GBB.
She also highlighted several strategic areas where partnership with GBB is critical, including:
- Full implementation of the 1Government Cloud to host and manage MDA operations.
- Adoption of an Enterprise Content Management System (ECMS) to streamline records and workflow automation across MDAs.
- Synergy between the 1Government Cloud Academy and the Civil Service Academy to enhance capacity development.
- Training and onboarding of civil servants on innovative tools such as Service-Wise GPT – Nigeria’s AI-powered platform designed to transform public service delivery.
Mr. Mohammed Ibrahim Sani, Executive Director of Finance and Corporate Services at GBB, in his vote of thanks, expressed deep gratitude to the Head of Service and her delegation for taking the time to visit and engage with the team. He reiterated GBB’s unwavering commitment to partnering with all stakeholders to deliver inclusive, resilient, and forward-looking digital solutions for the Federal Government.
News
Festive Seasons Trigger 400% Spike in Livestock Prices Across Nigeria’s North East — Moniepoint Study
A new study by Moniepoint Inc., Africa’s leading financial technology company, has revealed that livestock prices in Nigeria’s North East markets surge by up to 400% during festive seasons, driven by high demand from cities like Lagos, Port Harcourt, and Onitsha.
The report, which focuses on informal market dynamics in Borno State, shows that traders at Kasuwan Shanu in Gamboru dispatch an average of 50 trucks daily during peak periods such as Eid al-Adha and Christmas, with goat prices rising by 400–470% and rams by over 230%.
Beyond seasonal spikes, the study highlights a shift toward investment-minded trading, where livestock is raised in advance to boost resale value. This approach is helping traders build more stable and profitable businesses, despite the region’s history of conflict and economic volatility.
Key findings include:
- 51.2% of traders source goods from Maiduguri, reinforcing its role in Nigeria’s food supply chain
- 45% of traders now accept digital payments, with mobile transfers and POS usage rising sharply since the 2023 cash crunch
- Informal credit and trust-based transactions remain dominant, often conducted via phone calls and voice notes, without formal contracts
Moniepoint CEO Tosin Eniolorunda said the company’s tools are helping bridge long-standing gaps in access to finance: “This shift isn’t just tech-enabled — it’s structurally impactful. We’re helping build an economy where everyone can participate.”
The study joins Moniepoint’s growing portfolio of thought leadership on Nigeria’s informal economy, following previous reports on Onitsha Market, community pharmacies, and women-owned businesses.
Federal Government has expressed optimism that improved management of the national power grid by the Nigerian Independent System Operator (NISO) could increase electricity supply to 8,000 megawatts within the next 12 to 18 months.
Speaking at a leadership retreat to onboard NISO’s top management in Abuja, the Director General of the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE), Mr. Ayodeji Gbeleyi, noted that although Nigeria’s installed generation capacity exceeds 14,000MW, actual daily output has hovered around 5,500MW.
Gbeleyi emphasized that with more efficient grid operations and increased investments in transmission and distribution infrastructure, the power sector is poised for substantial improvement.
“As an independent entity, NISO now carries the critical responsibility of managing the national grid with impartiality and integrity. It must ensure non-discriminatory access, efficient dispatch coordination, and fair market settlements—free from undue influence or conflicts of interest.
“Currently, about 5,500MW of power is being wheeled daily, compared to a nameplate generation capacity of over 14,000MW. With the right investments and enhanced grid resilience, it is realistic to project a 50% increase in supply within 12 to 18 months,” he said.
Gbeleyi also revealed that the Federal Government has secured a $500 million loan from the World Bank to support the upgrade of the distribution infrastructure. Under this initiative, 3.2 million electricity meters will be deployed across Nigeria, with an additional 2 to 3 million meters to be provided through a separate presidential initiative.
Chairman of the NISO Board, Dr. Adesegun Akin-Olugbade, stressed the significance of NISO’s independence following its unbundling from the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN).
“NISO is not just a new institution; it represents a new approach—an independent system operator, a neutral market coordinator, and a strategic planning authority. Our responsibilities span real-time grid operations, long-term system planning, and the development of the electricity market.
“These are not peripheral tasks—they are core to national stability. When power fails, everything else suffers: industry, healthcare, education, even security,” he said.
Also speaking, NISO Managing Director/CEO, Engr. Abdu Bello, affirmed that the 8,000MW target is achievable within the projected timeframe.
“We must stay focused, get our internal structures right, and attract private sector investment. This retreat is part of the strategic planning process. With a clear direction and commitment, the goal is within reach,” Bello stated.
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