Nigeria's National Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA) has approved genetically modified cowpea for safe environmental release. The decision allows the future commercialisation of the product which is resistant to pod borer (Maruca vitrata). Cowpea is an important protein source in Nigeria and other West African countries and severe insect pest pressure can reportedly reduce the yield of the crop by as much as 90%. GM cowpea confers resistance to pod borer through the expression of the Bt Cry1Ab gene. This decision follows the commercialisation of Nigeria's first GM crop, cotton in 2018 (see AgbioNews Jul 31, 2018).