Senate urges FG to discontinue 5G deployment plan

The National Assembly, on Tuesday, advised the Federal Government to keep on hold its plans to deploy Fifth Generation (5G) telecommunications network in the country until all concerns being raised about the health implications have been allayed.

The Senate gave the advice following its resolution on a motion sponsored by Sen. Uche Ekwunife on the present status of 5G network in the country.

The lawmaker, in her lead debate on the motion, said there were growing concerns on the on-going discussion about the current status of 5G network in the country, especially as they relate to whether or not Nigeria is presently connected to 5G.

She also hinged the basis of her pushing the motion for deliberations on concerns by some scientists and medical experts that emissions from 5G towers could adversely affect people’s health by causing symptoms like damage to the eyes and immune systems, among other adverse effects.

The legislator, however, also spoke on the potential benefits of the 5G network for mobile broadband services due to its faster speed and better data capacity.

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While noting that some countries, including Switzerland, which had earlier rolled out the 5G mobile technology, have placed an indefinite moratorium on the use of 5G network due to the health concerns, Sen. Ekwunife pointed out that it was important for Nigeria to investigate the status of 5G network in Nigeria to protect the health of Nigerians and foreign residents in the country.

Following the deliberations on the motion, the lawmakers, as part of their resolution on it, directed its relevant committees to investigate the likely impact of the 5G network on the people and report back to plenary within two weeks.

This is even as the Senate also asked the relevant federal ministry and other agencies with responsibilities for the ICT operations standardization to suspend the 5G network deployment until a thorough probe to determine its suitability for human health has been ascertained.