By Stella Odueme & Our reporter
As parts of efforts towards the successful implementation of the National Biosecurity Policy and Action Plan 2022 – 2026, the National Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA), has inaugurated the National Advisory Committee on Biosecurity (NACB) and the National Technical Working Group on Biosecurity (NTWGB).
The two committees which are saddled with the responsibility of the smooth and hitch-free implementation of the policy and action plan was inaugurated in partnership with the African Health Budget Network (AHBN), in Abuja, Tuesday.
This is also a demonstration of the commitment of the federal government to the protection of the environment, human health and socio-economic development of the country.
Speaking while inaugurating the two committees, the Special Adviser to the President on Health, Dr. Salma Anas, commended the initiative, stressing that it is the right step in the right direction which is aimed at protecting Nigerians and ensuring they are healthy.
According to her: “We have seen the importance of ensuring the safety of human health, animals, environment, and our plants in the application of modern biotechnology in the country”.
While charging the members of the two committees to take the assignment serious for the good of the country, she vowed that her office will give them all the support the need to succeed.
On her part, the Director-General of National Biosafety Management Agency, Dr. Agnes Yemisi Asagbra, called on the committees to be committed in carrying out the national assignment the biosafety of the country.
She expressed the commitment of her office to support the committees to deliver on their mandate.
She, therefore, enumerated some Terms of Reference (ToR) of the National Advisory Committee on Biosecurity (NACB) to include; taking decisions on the report of implementation, ensuring availability of funds for special and critical biosecurity cases for national interest, promoting and encouraging high level collaboration between national and sub-national in ensuring a cross-cutting biosecured environment.
On the other hand, she mentioned some ToR for the National Technical Working Group on Biosecurity (NTWGB) to include updating the relevant federal ministries, departments and agencies, states and local government, relevant professional associations and all the stakeholders on issues concerning biosecurity; providing and considering national positions that support biosecured Nigeria at the international level; guiding and offering technical support to national instrument on Biosecurity to attain international best practices.
Speaking earlier, the Coordinator, Africa Health Budget Network (AHBN), Dr. Aminu Magashi, explained that the meeting was aimed at inaugurating two high-level committees that will support the implementation of the biosecurity policy and action plan over the next five years.
He recalled that: “In December 2021, one of the most powerful conference was organised by the Presidential Steering Committee on COVID-19, which we call the National COVID-19 Summit as a preparation to usher a post-COVID-19 agenda for Nigeria.
“Some commitment were reached; one of which was to support and strengthen the biosafety management agency to lead the national biosecurity agenda.
“I urge development partners who were present in the meeting which was held at NIA to remember these two promises as they commit to support the NBMA to implement the policy and action plan for the biosecurity agenda and to support the agency to strengthen the advisory council and also to strengthen the technical working group.
“The post-COVID-19 agenda in Africa has to be supported so that we can address emerging epidemics and pandemics including Nigeria.”
