FG Clears the Air, Says Chemical fertilizers are Safe

Federal ministry of Science and Technology has refuted a statement circulating in some sections of the media alleging that the use of chemical fertiliser poses serious health risks that could lead to death, allergy, sickness and disability.

Efem Nkanga, special assistant, media to Mrs Omobola Johnson, supervising Minister of Science and Technology, in a statement described the report as a misinformed view that is totally incorrect and scientifically baseless.    

Abayomi Oguntunde, deputy director, Department of Physical and Life Science, Federal Ministry of Science and Technology, who represented the Minister at a three-day first national conference on environmental health sciences organised by the Faculty of Public Health, University of Ibadan, had been quoted as saying that the use of chemical fertiliser  poses serious health risks that could lead to death, allergy, sickness and disability and that GM crops ensure better and safer agricultural practices because it avoided the use of chemical fertiliser which endangers the environment by killing off beneficial organisms in soil.

Describing the statement as a reckless one that does not represent the  position of Mrs Johnson as the Supervising Minister of Science and Technology nor the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development or the Federal Government of Nigeria, Nkanga enjoined Nigerians to disregard the caution on chemical fertilizers.

Fertilizers- both organic and inorganic- are scientifically proven to improve soil fertility management and ensure more productive, nutritious, safe and environmentally sustainable food production.

The use of fertilizers is safe and does not constitute any dangers to human health or consumer safety. All over the world, about 50% of total growth in food production comes from the use of fertilizers.

The Federal Government, through the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, supports farmers in efficient and safe use of organic and inorganic fertilizers to boost food production, improve food security, enhance human nutrition and reverse soil nutrient depletion and soil degradation.

 The Ministry of Science and Technology strongly supports these efforts and advises the public not to be misinformed or alarmed by the erroneous misstatements.