FGN ASSURES FULL IMPLEMENTATION OF NATIONAL BIOSECURITY POLICY AND ACTION PLAN 2022-2026
Oru Leonard
The federal government of Nigeria has assured full implementation of the national Biosecurity policy and action plan 2022–2026, to protect the country against Biosecurity threats.
The Director General/Chief Executive Officer of the National Biosafety Management Agency Dr. Rufus Eseoghene Ebegba , said this during a two-day stakeholders’ meeting on the implementation strategies for the National Biosecurity Policy and Action Plan held in Abuja on the 10-11th November 2022.
Dr Rufus Ebegba stated that Biological threats have no boundaries hence the proactive decision to protect the country against harmful biological agents.
” I tell you, this policy is first of its kind in Africa and one of the best in the world. I must commend commitment of NBMA and the stakeholders for all their efforts”.
Dr. Rufus Ebegba also stated that, protection of the country is a job of all and this was demonstrated by the various stakeholders present during the development process.
The Head of Biosecurity department Dr. Agha Ukpai Agha, urged all relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies to give needed support to the full implementation of this policy.
He said, “this policy would be implemented through the One Health Approach and I would want to encourage the line ministries and agencies to ensure the full implementation of this policy for national interest”.
He also stated that, the meeting provided opportunity for stakeholders to share ideas and discuss the implementation process.
The representative of the World Health Organization WHO Dr. Laximkant Chavan, lauded National Biosafety Management Agency for their major strides since inception and this policy yet proves the determination to protect the country against harmful biological agents.
He added that, Nigeria is ahead of many countries in this regard and I must commend your effort, he said. ” Let me expressly state that WHO will always give the government of Nigeria needed support to protect her territory against harmful biological agents “.
This stakeholders’ meeting had in attendance representatives from the defence sector, line ministries, agencies, office of the National security adviser, civil society groups, the academia among others.
(NBMA Media)
