Federal Ministry of Science and Technology has refuted a
statement circulating in some sections of the media which alleged that the use
of chemical fertiliser poses serious health risks that could lead to death,
allergy, sickness and disability.
DigitalSENSE
Business News reports that the supervising Minister of Science and
Technology, Mrs Omobola Johnson, has cleared the air saying it was a
misinformed view that is totally incorrect and scientifically baseless,
according to the Special Assistant (SA) on Media to the Minister, Mrs. Efem
Nkanga.
Also, the deputy director, Department of Physical and Life
Science, Federal Ministry of Science and Technology, Abayomi Oguntunde, 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.
DigitalSENSE
Business News gathered that this statement was described 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, urging Nigerians to disregard the caution on chemical fertilizers.
Fertilizers both organic and inorganic, Mrs Nkanga
explained to DigitalSENSE
Business News are scientifically proven to improve soil fertility
management and ensure more productive, nutritious, safe and environmentally
sustainable food production.
The use of fertilizers, she noted, is safe and does not constitute
any danger to human health or consumer safety. Pointing out that all across the
globe, about 50 per cent of total growth in food production comes from the use
of fertilizers.
The Federal Government, therefore, 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.
Remmy Nweke/Nenye Dom
... Making SENSE of digital revolution!Pix: Mrs. Johnson
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