MONDAY 11th October, 2021: The Federal Government has granted environmental approval for the open cultivation and evaluations of TELA Maize. 
The approval was announced on Sunday in a statement issued in Abuja. The approval was also jointly signed by the Communications Officer, West and Central Africa for African Agricultural Technology Foundation; and the Information Officer, IAR/ABU, Yakubu Dodo.
This maize, is a new variety genetically modified and developed by some researchers at the Institute for Agricultural Research, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.
It was gathered from the statement that the newly modified maize variety could tolerate moderate drought, as well as resist stem borers and fall armyworm.
Reacting to the decision of the Federal Government, the Executive Director, IAR, Prof. Ishiyaku Mohammed, said it was inspiring for the institute to secure NBMA approval for the commercial release of the drought-tolerant and insect-resistant maize.
The decision of the Federal Government to this regard was documented in a certificate issued to IAR by the National Biosafety Management Agency, the agency in charge of regulating genetically modified products across the country.
The certificate dated October 8, 2021, with permit code no. NBMA/CM/003, was issued to IAR for general/commercial release of TELA maize genetically modified for drought tolerance, resistance to stem borer and fall armyworm.
“It comes into effect from October 8, 2021, to October 5, 2024,” the statement read in part.