In a scathing critique, human rights lawyer and public policy analyst Frank Tietie has called out the Nigerian scientific community for its silence regarding the controversial appointment of Mr. Bello Bawa Bwari, a lawyer, as the Director-General of the National Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA). Tietie’s remarks highlight a perceived failure of scientists to defend their profession against what he describes as a clear breach of statutory requirements.
According to Tietie, Bwari’s appointment contravenes Section 5 of the NBMA Act, which stipulates that the Director-General “shall be a holder of at least a Master’s Degree in biological sciences or other related field.” In his opinion piece, he expressed deep concern that scientific professionals, particularly those in biology, appear unwilling or unable to assert the integrity of their field.
“The law is clear. The breach is evident. Yet, the scientists remain silent. Who knows why?” he questioned, noting a potential double standard within the scientific community.
Drawing a comparison to the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Tietie posited that if a non-pharmacist were appointed as its Director-General, there would be widespread outrage and immediate action from pharmacists. In contrast, he argues, “When it comes to biosafety, Nigerian scientists appear indifferent.”
The piece goes on to stress that biosafety is not merely an administrative duty but is crucial for public health, environmental protection, and food security—fields requiring extensive scientific expertise. Tietie condemned the government’s decision as not only misguided but illegal, stating that it undermines the credibility of the NBMA.
He further cautioned that the current situation at the NBMA mirrors the absurdity of appointing unqualified individuals to key roles, likening it to selecting a carpenter as the Attorney-General of the Federation.
“The current situation at the NBMA is akin to appointing a carpenter, without a law degree, as the Attorney-General of the Federation, while all lawyers and the Nigerian public look the other way. That is the scale of the anomaly unfolding before us in biosafety and biotechnology. That Nigerian scientists can watch this happen in silence should be a matter of deep shame and introspection.”
“Professional responsibility does not end in laboratories, conferences, or journal publications. It extends to defending the integrity of institutions created to protect society through science. Silence in the face of illegality is not neutrality; it is complicity.”
“What Nigerian scientists can watch happen in silence should be a matter of deep shame and introspection,” he asserted.
Emphasizing the need for action, Tietie urged President Bola Tinubu to reverse the appointment immediately. He also challenged scientists to reflect on their responsibilities beyond laboratories and publications, encouraging them to defend the integrity of the institutions designed to safeguard society through science.
“President Bola Tinubu’s decision to appoint Mr Bello Bawa Bwari as Director-General of the NBMA is misguided and must be urgently reversed. But beyond the Presidency, Nigerian scientists must ask themselves hard questions. If they cannot defend the statutory foundations of biosafety governance, on what moral or professional basis do they claim relevance in national development?
In conclusion, he proclaimed, “Biosafety cannot survive without science. And science cannot retain credibility when its practitioners choose comfort over courage.”
