By Eunice Orike
The National Biotechnology Research and Development Agency (NBRDA) has reaffirmed its commitment to credible research, transparency, and effective collaboration with regulatory bodies to ensure that biotechnology applications in Nigeria remain safe and beneficial to society.
Director General of NBRDA, Prof. Abdullahi Mustapha, said this while receiving the Director General of the National Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA), Bello Bala Bwari, and his management team during a courtesy visit to the agency’s headquarters in Abuja.
Welcoming the NBMA delegation, Mustapha congratulated Bwari on his appointment and commended his efforts toward strengthening Nigeria’s biosafety framework.
“At NBRDA, we are committed to advancing innovation through credible research while ensuring strict adherence to biosafety regulations, “While NBRDA drives scientific advancement, NBMA ensures that every application of biotechnology in Nigeria complies with established biosafety standards”, Mustapha said.
He stressed that the synergy between both agencies aims to strengthen biotechnology oversight without compromising safety, adding that public welfare remains central to all research activities.
In his response, NBMA Director General, Bello Bala Bwari, commended the NBRDA for its contributions to advancing biotechnology research in the country. He reiterated the agency’s resolve to ensure that all biotechnology applications adhere to the highest safety standards.
Bwari highlighted biotechnology’s vast potential for national development but cautioned that progress must be anchored on compliance with biosafety regulations to protect human health and the environment.
“We will continue to provide regulatory oversight that upholds scientific integrity while supporting innovations that benefit the Nigerian people,” he said.
Both agencies pledged to deepen collaboration toward promoting safe and sustainable biotechnology in Nigeria, guided by accountability, scientific excellence, and the shared goal of improving lives through innovation.
