Concerns continue to grow over Bello Bawa’s appointment bwari as Director General of the National Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA), following allegations that the appointment contravenes the provisions of the NBMA Act.
The incident has sparked harsh criticism from civil society groups and renewed debate over law enforcement and scientific integrity in biosafety governance in Nigeria.
In a public comment, human rights lawyer and public policy analyst Frank Tietie accused Nigeria’s scientific community of maintaining what he described as a deafening silence over what he called a clear violation of the law.
According to Tietie, Section 5 of the NBMA Act expressly stipulates that the agency’s Director General must possess at least a master’s degree in biological sciences or a related field.
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Tietie argued that the appointment of Mr Bwari, a lawyer by profession, undermines the credibility of biosafety regulation in the country and raises serious questions about the commitment of scientists to uphold the integrity of their profession.
He compared the situation to the appointment of a non-pharmacist to head the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), noting that such a move would normally provoke widespread outrage.
“Biosecurity is not a ceremonial or administrative function. It requires deep scientific understanding, competency in risk assessment, and knowledge of complex biological systems,” Tietie said, warning that treating the position as a routine political appointment trivializes science and jeopardizes public trust.
He further noted that the NBMA had already suffered damage to its reputation under the previous Director-General, Dr Yemisi Asagbra, particularly due to what he described as media mismanagement, and argued that the current appointment could further weaken public confidence in the agency.
Beyond public criticism, the Citizen Defense for Social and Economic Rights (CASER), a civil society organization led by Tietie, has formally escalated the matter by filing a Freedom of Information (FOI) request with the Federal Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation.
In a letter dated December 19, 2025, CASER requested the disclosure of Mr. Bwari’s educational qualifications and related records on which his recommendation and appointment were based.
The organization cited the Freedom of Information Act 2011, insisting that the information sought is in the overriding public interest, given the sensitive nature of biosafety regulation.
Specifically, CASER requested certified copies of Mr. Bwari’s academic certificates, his curriculum vitae, any verification or due diligence reports conducted by the ministry, the formal letter of recommendation to the President, and internal correspondence related to compliance with Section 5 of the NBMA Act.
The group also made reference to allegations surrounding former Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Uche Nnaji, who allegedly recommended Mr Bwari for the position before his dismissal, emphasizing the need for transparency and accountability in the process.
CASER warned that failure to comply with the freedom of information request within the legally stipulated time frame would force the organization to seek judicial enforcement.
At the time of filing this report, neither the Federal Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation nor the NBMA had issued an official response to the allegations or the FOI request.
The controversy has continued to spark debate among stakeholders in scientific, political and civil society circles on the legality, professionalism and future of biosafety governance in Nigeria.