By Abdallah el-Kurebe, News Editor
The National Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA) says it would seek to collaborate with the International Police (INTERPOL) as part of efforts to ensure the safe application of modern biotechnology and the use of its products, including genetically modified organisms (GMOS).
The Director General of the Agency, Dr Rufus Ebegba said this when he led the Agency’s management on a courtesy visit to the Commissioner of Police and head of Interpol National Centre Bureau (NCB), Mr. Olushola Subair.
The DG said the essence of the collaboration was to synergies with Interpol and to make sure that the Agency was promptly alerted whenever GM seeds or grains were imported into the country without Biosafety permit.
Rufus said the Agency had signed a Memorandum of Understanding with other sister agencies all in a bid to ensure that its mandate was achieved, noting that a collaboration with the centre would help the Agency in its bid to deliver on its mandate.
Responding, the head of the Interpol NCB, Olushola Subair said the Interpol is ready and willing to collaborate with the Agency to ensure that the mandate of the NBMA was achieved, noting that there are very key areas Interpol could collaborate with the Agency.
The CP said the Interpol would collaborate with the Agency in terms of training of staff, provide protective kits and equipment for staff of the NBMA, among others.
