Senate halts 5G network installation, to commence probe

The Senate on Tuesday said it is set to investigate the status of 5th generation (5G) telecommunication network in Nigeria and has directed the Federal Ministry of Communication and Digital Economy, including the Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC) to halt the installation of the network.

This was consequent upon the passage of a motion sponsored by Senator Uche Ekwunife (PDP/Anambra Central).

To carry out the investigation on the status of the 5G network, the Senate mandated its committees on Communications, Science and Technology, ICT and Cybercrimes as well as Health, to carry out the assignment and report back within four weeks.

Sen. Ekwunife in her motion, drew attention to the fact that the uncertainty on whether or not the 5G network has been launched in Nigeria will continue to fuel speculations and rumour concerning the deployment of the 5G network and its effects on Nigerians.

According to her, it has become a source of concern that the deployment of the network in urban areas could lead to the installment of strong radiating mobile communications antenna approximately every 100 meters, producing a radiation tsunami and taking up to a 1, 000 fold increase in the transmission power.

She informed the Senate that “several countries including Switzerland, one of the world leaders in the roll out of the 5G mobile technology, have placed an indefinite moratorium on the use of 5G network because of its health hazards.”

The senator further urged the Senate to note the concerns by some scientists and medical experts that the emissions from the 5G towers could adversely affect the health of citizens by causing symptoms like damage to the eye, antibiotics resistance, as well as other physiological effects on the nervous system and immune system.

She expressed her desire to investigate the true status of the 5G network in the country with a view to ensuring that Nigerians are not exposed to an unreasonable risk.

Also, the senator expressed concerns that the uncertainty surrounding whether or not the 5G network has been launched in Nigeria will continue to fuel speculations and rumours concerning the deployment of the 5G network and its effecst on the citizenry.

Supporting the motion, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele (APC/ Ekiti Central), said neither the Federal Ministry of Communication and Digital Economy nor the NCC can provide Nigerians any scientific step that has been taken regarding the status of the network.

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“This motion is very timely and sensitive. Its prayer for investigation of the status of 5G network is in order because experts must be engaged to ascertain its environmental and health harmlessness or otherwise, to Nigerians.

“The very reason the Federal Ministry of Communication and NCC should not rush into its implementation at all,” he argued.

However, other senators who contributed to the debate, noted the recent statement credited to the Minister of Communications, Isah Pantami, to the effect that no license has been granted for the operation of the 5G network in Nigeria.

Deputy Senate Leader, Senator Ajayi Boroffice, in his contribution, said the motion is self-explanatory and straightforward which requires no further debate, but for the prayer to be adopted.