The Federal Ministry of Science and Technology Mrs Omobola Johnson has warned that chemical fertilizer poses serious health risks to users adding that it could lead to death, allergy, sickness and disability.

Speaking at the three-day 1st national conference on environmental health sciences organised by the Faculty of Public Health, University of Ibadan, the Supervisory Minister for science and technology, Mrs Omobola Johnson disclosed that the ministry had through its agency, the National Agricultural and Biotechnology Development Agency (NABDA) made advances in the production of genetically modified (GM) crops.

According to her, the GM crops ensure better and safer agricultural practices because it avoids the use of chemical fertilizer which endangers the environment by killing off beneficial organisms in soil.

While noting that theme of the conference "Environmental Health: Protecting the Ecosystems beyond the Millenium Goals" was well conceived, the minister noted that nature's goods and services were the ultimate foundations of life and health.

She said defending and improving the state of the human environment for present and future generations had become an imperative goal of mankind, adding that that humans have however made unprecedented changes to ecosystems in recent decades to meet the growing demands for food, fresh water, fibre and energy.

Represented by the Deputy Director, Department of Physical and Life Science, Federal Ministry of Science and Technology, Mr Abayomi Oguntunde, the minister disclosed that the ministry had developed an environment friendly smokeless stove which could be used in homes to provide domestic energy for cooking.

She assured that the ministry would continue to provide a credible platform that will ensures that the environment is healthy while protecting ecosystems beyond the millenium development goals.

The Oyo State governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi disclosed that the urban renewal programme would be extended to other parts of the country. Adding that despite the challenges, government would continue to mobilize human and material resources towards ensuring a clean environment.

The chairman organizing committee, Dr Godson Ana, expressed hope that the conference would inaugurate the Nigeria Academy of Environmental Health, an organization which would organize subsequent editions of the conference and publish the Nigerian Journal of Environmental Health Science.