FEC Approves Revised National Biotechnology Policy

The Federal Executive Council has approved a revised National Biotechnology Policy, replacing a framework that had remained largely unchanged for 25 years, as Nigeria seeks to expand the role of biotechnology in agriculture, healthcare, industry and environmental management.

President Bola Tinubu presided over the FEC meeting on August 20, 2026, where the council approved the update. Toyin Omozuwa, Press Secretary of the National Biotechnology Research and Development Agency (NBRDA), announced the approval, describing it as overdue given how much the science has changed since the original 2001 policy.

The revised policy sets a framework for biotechnology research, development and commercialisation, with specific attention to emerging areas such as precision agriculture, climate-smart farming techniques, advanced manufacturing, gene editing and genomics. It also formally establishes the Nigeria Biotechnology Partnership, tying the country into the wider Global Biotechnology Partnership.

NBRDA Director-General Prof. Abdullahi Mustapha said the approval provides the policy direction needed to promote “innovation, technology transfer and commercialisation,” while helping attract investment and expand biotechnology's contribution to national development.

Oversight of the sector falls under the Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology, led by Dr Kingsley Tochukwu Udeh, SAN, with officials framing the update as part of a broader push to strengthen Nigeria's research infrastructure and attract international investment into biotech-driven agriculture and healthcare.

Source: Leadership, Tribune Online