ONSA raises concern about 5G’s vulnerability to cyber attacks, military espionage

The Office of the National Security Adviser, ONSA, has expressed concern about the vulnerabilities of fifth Generation (5G) network equipment to cyber attacks, military and industrial espionage and other malicious activities by foreign actors.

ONSA’s Director Communications, Dr Bala Fakandu, spoke on Thursday at an investigative hearing on the status of 5G network in Nigeria, organized by Joint Senate Committee on Communications, Science and Technology, ICT & Cyber Crimes and Primary Healthcare and Communicable Diseases.

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While the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr Isa Ali Pantami, said the country was ready for the deployment of 5G, ONSA raised concerns about the deliberate vulnerabilities and backdoors within the network’s equipment.

Fakandu said: “We are aware that the deployment of 5G will come with different types of equipment and so we understand that the stakeholders in the telecommunications industry will make effort to ensure that they upgrade their systems in order to meet up with the new technology.

“But we are concerned about the deliberate vulnerabilities and backdoors within the 5G network equipment. That is one of the key concerns we have and this will make the infrastructure highly susceptible to eavesdropping, tracking, cyber attacks, military and industrial espionage and other malicious activities by foreign actors.

“We understand these are things that will be put in place particularly in the policy that the Honourable Minister has talked about but I need to emphasise it so that the stakeholders in the telecommunications industry will understand where we are coming from because the national security concerns is the concern of the Office of the National Security Adviser and concern of the President as well.

“We urge the Honourble Minister to carry the office along in the development of the policy so that we could have a robust framework to take care of this areas.”

5G first trial concluded

Pantami said his ministry had conducted the first trial of 5G in Nigeria on 25th September 2019 and was in the process of compiling its final position.

“And most of compiled position will be part of my draft national policy which will be presented at the Federal Executive Council.

“The position is that we are almost at the final stage. So now, Nigeria is ready for 5G as long as we address the major challenges,” he said.

He noted that so far no negative impacts has been established from the research and trial carried both locally and at the international level.

He assured that there was no link between 5G and COVID-19 and any other disease.

“The only issue being raised usually is about radiation. But people don’t realise that the radiation of 4G more harmful than that of 5G.

“The radiation of microwave oven at home is more harmful than that of the 5G. The radiation of even the smart phone itself is even more harmful that that of 5G,” he added.

Senate President Ahmad Lawan the Red Chamber would only approve the deployment of 5G network only if the security and safety of the citizens are guaranteed.