Senate probes 5G Network, wants stoppage of installation In Nigeria

Following the public outcry on the consequences of 5th Generation, 5G Network in Nigeria, the Senate has put machinery in motion for thorough investigation of the status of the network.

The upper legislative chamber in carrying out  investigation mandated its Committees on  Communications,  Science and Technology, ICT and  Cybercrimes as well as Health to do so and report back within four weeks.

This was sequel to a motion sponsored to that effect by Senator Lillian Ekwunife (PDP Anambra Central) during yesterday’s plenary.

But senators who contributed to debate on the motion, specifically called on the Federal  Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy as well as the National Communications Commission, NCC to put on hold any form of installation of the network in the country.

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 citizens of Nigeria.

According  to her, it has become a source of concern that the deployment of the network in urban areas would lead to the instalment of “a strong radiating mobile communications antenna approximately every 100 meters, producing a radiation tsunami and taking up to a 1000 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, has placed an indefinite and indefinite moratorium on the use of 5G network because of its health hazards.”

The lawmaker 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 the immune system.”

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

Ekwunife  also expressed concern that the uncertainty surrounding whether or not the 5G network has been launched in Nigeria will continue to fuel the speculations and rumours concerning the deployment of the 5G network and its effect 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 say to Nigerians any scientific step  that has been taken so far as regards the status of the Network .

“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 Ministry of Communication and NCC should not rush into its implementation at all,” he said.

However other lawmakers who contributed to the debate,  noted the recent statement credited to 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”.