Business
Group calls for review of GMO approval in Nigeria
A coalition of environmental, agricultural, and civil society organisations has urged the Nigerian government to put on hold new approvals of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) in the country.
It is also asking the government to conduct an independent review of existing approvals, citing concerns over biosafety, public health, biodiversity, and farmers’ rights.
The group made the call in a communiqué issued at the end of the National Conference on Biosafety and Agroecology held on Monday in Abuja.
The conference, attended by the representatives of federal ministries, regulators, farmers, researchers, civil society organisations, and legal practitioners, among others, reviewed the increasing approval and commercialisation of genetically modified crops in Nigeria, including Bt Cowpea, TELA Maize and recently registered transgenic cotton varieties.
Participants raised concerns about the implications of GMOs for biosafety, environmental protection, food sovereignty, public health and farmers’ rights, the communiqué said.
They similarly urged the federal government to place a moratorium on new GMO approvals pending independent, long-term and peer-reviewed assessments, including feeding trials, environmental impact assessments and social impact studies.
An independent review of existing approvals to ensure compliance with the National Biosafety Management Act (NBMA) and the precautionary principle also featured in their demands.
Other recommendations included bolstering public agricultural research and extension services, protecting indigenous seed systems, supporting community seed banks, phasing out highly hazardous pesticides and increasing investment in agroecological research and training.
GM concerns in Nigeria
The adoption of GM crops has remained contentious among food system experts in Nigeria, creating two divides. GM proponents argue that the technology can help scale up food production and boost food security. Critics, however, fear the technology could trigger environmental and health risks, and have expressed worries about weak regulatory enforcement and inadequate labelling.
According to the International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications, more than 30 major food crops have been genetically modified globally.
Nigeria has approved four crops—maize, cowpea, cotton, and soybean—for commercialisation and is among the six African countries leading in biotech crop adoption.
In 2024, the government approved four varieties of Tela maize, further intensifying debates over GM crop safety and transparency.
Farmers’ limited knowledge of GM seed characteristics, potential dependence on seed companies, and the broader impact on traditional farming systems have been identified among the downsides.
An investigation by PREMIUM TIMES and international partners in 2024 laid bare how the U.S. government, through the now-defunct USAID, funded pesticide and GM-related advocacy campaigns in Nigeria, including efforts that profiled critics of GMOs.
In March, the National Biosafety Management Agency ordered the suspension of four new transgenic cotton hybrid varieties in Nigeria.
The varieties are MIC 561 BGII, MIC 563 BGII, BIOSEED-FIYAH CH1001, and BIOSEED-FIYAH CH1002. They were allegedly registered by the National Committee on Naming, Registration and Release of Crop Varieties, Livestock Breeds and Fisheries on 26 March 2026 without the requisite approval of NBMA.
The agency said its regulatory surveillance and compliance-monitoring mechanisms identified “serious compliance abnormalities” in the varieties.
The suspension of the new cotton varieties underscores ongoing challenges around biosafety compliance and regulatory oversight in Nigeria’s biotechnology sector.
READ ALSO: GMOs: Experts accuse Nigeria’s biosafety regulator of not being transparent
Concerns over food security approach
The conference noted that Nigeria’s food security challenges require “holistic, people-centred and sustainable solutions” rather than sole dependence on technological interventions.
Participants also raised concerns about biodiversity loss, genetic contamination of indigenous seed varieties, monoculture farming systems, dependence on pesticides and the absence of sufficient long-term ecological studies on GM crops.
The communiqué stated that proprietary seed systems could undermine farmers’ rights to save, exchange and improve seeds, with implications for rural livelihoods and local food systems.
It further observed that existing biosafety governance frameworks require greater transparency, accountability, scientific rigour and meaningful public participation.
The conference spotlighted the far-reaching consequences of continued use of hazardous pesticides, warning that they constitute risks to human health, biodiversity, soil fertility and water resources.
It endorsed agroecology as a viable pathway to sustainable agriculture, noting that it has demonstrated the potential to improve soil health, biodiversity, climate resilience and farmers’ livelihoods.
Participants said structural barriers, including limited access to land, finance, information and technology, continue to affect farmers, particularly women and young people.
In their conclusion, participants remarked that ecological sustainability, food sovereignty, public accountability, social justice and the well-being of present and future generations should guide Nigeria’s food and agricultural policies.
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Business
TMDK Group celebrates 25th anniversary, vows to continue building Nigeria’s Energy, agro-industrial future
Diversified Nigerian conglomerate, TMDK Group, has marked its 25th anniversary with a renewed commitment to expanding investments in Nigeria’s energy, agriculture, manufacturing and industrial sectors.
The silver jubilee celebration brought together employees, business associates, customers, partners, financial institutions and other stakeholders who joined the Group in reflecting on its journey and celebrating a quarter-century of enterprise, resilience and investment.
Founded 25 years ago by Alhaji Amadu Sule Leda, TMDK Group has evolved from a small real estate investment company into a diversified investment group with significant interests spanning downstream petroleum, petroleum infrastructure, logistics, agro-processing and manufacturing.
The milestone, according to the company, represents not only an opportunity to celebrate its achievements but also a platform to reaffirm its commitment to investing in sectors capable of strengthening Nigeria’s productive capacity, creating employment and supporting sustainable economic development.
Speaking at the anniversary celebration, Suhailu Ismaila, Acting Managing Director of TMDK Agro Park, described the Group’s 25-year journey as one defined by resilience, strategic investment and an enduring commitment to Nigeria.
He said the company’s next phase would build on the foundation established over the past two and a half decades by pursuing investments that create long-term economic value.
“Twenty-five years is a significant milestone. It reflects years of resilience, strategic investments and commitment to national development. We are celebrating what has been achieved, but we are equally focused on what lies ahead,” he said.
Expanding Nigeria’s Energy Infrastructure
Over the past 25 years, TMDK says it has established a growing presence in Nigeria’s downstream petroleum industry through investments in petroleum storage, distribution and logistics infrastructure.
The Group’s petroleum operations are focused on strengthening the supply chain and improving the availability and efficient distribution of refined petroleum products to industrial and commercial customers.
Through its investments in storage and logistics infrastructure, TMDK has continued to contribute to the development of Nigeria’s downstream petroleum value chain at a time when efficient storage, transportation and product distribution remain critical to the country’s energy security.
The company said it intends to deepen these investments as part of its broader strategy to support Nigeria’s evolving energy needs and strengthen the resilience of the downstream petroleum supply chain.
From Agriculture to Agro-Industrial Processing
TMDK’s diversification into agriculture has also become a major component of its growth strategy.
At the TMDK Agro Park in Kaduna State, the company is developing an integrated agro-industrial food-processing platform designed to serve both human and animal consumption, while connecting agricultural production with large-scale industrial processing and value addition.
The facility processes maize, soybeans and other agricultural commodities into a range of products, including corn flour, corn grits, edible vegetable oil and animal feed. The company is also developing capacity for the production of pasta and noodles.
David Onabajo, Chief Operating Officer of the Agro Park, said the integrated nature of the facility was designed to create stronger links between farmers, processors and consumers.
According to him, the objective is to move beyond the production and sale of raw agricultural commodities by creating additional value within Nigeria.
“The Agro Park is designed to strengthen local value addition, provide reliable markets for farmers and contribute to Nigeria’s food security by reducing dependence on imported food products,” he said.
The investment is expected to support farmers by creating more reliable off-take opportunities while strengthening domestic processing capacity and expanding employment opportunities across the agricultural value chain.
Investment, Employment and Local Value Creation
The company said its diversification strategy is driven by the belief that sustainable economic growth requires investment in productive sectors capable of generating employment and creating value locally.
The Group’s operations now bring together different elements of the economy, including energy infrastructure, logistics, agriculture and industrial processing.
The anniversary therefore marks a transition from the company’s first 25 years of establishment and consolidation into what management describes as a new phase focused on expansion, innovation and deeper investment.
The Group expressed appreciation to its employees, customers, business partners, financial institutions, regulators and host communities for their contributions to its development.
Tamwakat Barde, Human Resource Manager, said TMDK would continue to prioritise responsible business practices, innovation, operational excellence and employee welfare.
She said the company recognises that its people remain central to its ability to achieve its long-term objectives.
Recognising Employees
The anniversary also provided an opportunity for TMDK to recognise employees whose contributions have supported the company’s growth.
Bilkisu Suleiman, an employee of the Group, recalled receiving the Chairman’s Award Silver Category after joining the company in January 2025.
“I started working with TMDK in January 2025, and by December 2025, I was awarded the Chairman’s Award Silver Category. This award gave me great joy because it meant the time and effort I put into the growth of the company was seen and acknowledged,” she said.
She urged management to sustain initiatives that recognise and reward employees who demonstrate commitment and excellence.
The company said employee welfare and recognition would remain important components of its corporate culture as it enters its next phase of growth.
Giving Back to Host Communities
Beyond its commercial activities, TMDK said it remains committed to supporting communities connected to its operations.
Abba Aminu, Site Operations Manager at the Agro Park, commended the management for its contributions to society through donations and the provision of food supplies during important festive periods, including Sallah, Christmas and New Year celebrations.
He said such initiatives demonstrated the company’s recognition of its responsibilities to the communities in which it operates.
READ ALSO: In Kaduna, TMDK Group is strengthening Nigerias energy, food security
Looking Ahead
The 25th anniversary comes at a critical period for Nigeria, as the country seeks to attract greater private-sector investment into energy, agriculture, manufacturing and other productive sectors to accelerate economic diversification and improve national productivity.
For TMDK Group, the anniversary is therefore both a celebration of the past and a statement of intent for the future.
The Group said it plans to build on its existing investments by pursuing projects capable of improving energy infrastructure, expanding agro-industrial processing, creating jobs and strengthening domestic value chains.
For Alhaji Amadu Sule Leda, the founder of the Group, the next chapter is anchored on a continuing belief in Nigeria’s potential and the capacity of Nigerian businesses to build globally competitive enterprises from within the country.
Onabajo described the founder as a businessman whose vision continues to shape the Group’s direction.
“Our CEO is a visionary who believes in Nigeria. He is a resilient Nigerian patriot who believes in the Nigerian enterprise,” he said.
As TMDK Group begins its next 25 years, the company says its ambition remains firmly rooted in investment, enterprise and national development — with a strategy centred on building productive assets, creating employment and contributing to the transformation of Nigeria’s energy and agro-industrial landscape.
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