The position of Human Rights Writers Association (HURIWA), on the current Management of National Biotechnology Development Agency NABDA, is a complete misconception and misrepresentation of the true situation in the Organisation, NIM said.
A statement issued by the secretary to the NIM, Kayode Esan debunked the unverified allegations and testament to the needless rumour been bandied by enemies of the current leadership, under Professor Alex Uwadiegwu Casmir Akpa as the Ag DG.
He says the unfounded allegations against the current Management is a product of fake news,challenging the human rights body to take a trip of assessment to the organisation’s new innovations and efforts.
Esan maintained that in the last two years, Professor Uwadiegwu has reposition the NABDA to be abreast to the current global challenges in line with the best practices.
The launching of bio-products in foods,fruits,crops and others essentials like light,vaccines and drugs for the new pandemic of COVID-19 in collaboration with some foreign and indigenous conglomerates, is enough basis of the performance of the new Leadership.
This is in addition to launching of improved seeds and fruits as well as efforts to preserve the existing ones through bio-processing and sales.
Under Professor Uwadiegwu, genetically modified organism(GMO), products influx to Nigeria had reduced to the barest minimum,for obvious reasons of efforts of the board.
HURIWA and others are suppose to be aware of efforts of the board to produce vaccines of COVID-19 and other terminal and child related diseases to address the growing health hazards after due research into the workability and functions of the products with collaborative efforts.
The launching of new seeds and rebranding/improving on the existing ones,is purely the handiwork of the board HURIWA needs to acquaint itself.
On the issue of workers salaries at all categories, NIM says management had prioritise all categories of workers in the Organisation because of the significant role it plays in the area of research,foods production,drugs and bio- products, meant to advance the country,saying it may not be insulated from some unavoidable minor discrepancies, if at all.
He urged HURIWA not be cajoled into passing comments capable of generating needless crises in the Organisation,saying the current management is on top of all the programs and policies initiated to grow Nigeria economy
