Nigeria plea to hold back on 5G plans

A NIGERIAN senator has pleaded with the country’s federal government to suspend its plans to deploy 5G networks in the country until its health effects are fully investigated.

5G is the fifth generation of mobile network technology, offering enhanced connectivity compared with the 4G technology used today.

5G provides platforms for new and emerging technologies in the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR), such as artificial intelligence (AI), internet of things (IoT) and big data, which are expected to improve the way we live and work.

According to The Guardian Nigeria, senator Uche Ekwunife, who represents Anambra State, on Tuesday brought forward a motion at the plenary, pleading with the communications, science and technology, ICT and cybercrimes standing committees to fully investigate the advancement of 5G.

During her debate, Ekwunife stated that there was concern about the deployment of the network and the effects it could have on citizens.

“The uncertainty over whether or not the 5G network has been launched in Nigeria will continue to fuel speculation concerning the deployment of the 5G network and its effects on the citizens of Nigeria.

“There’s a source of concern that the deployment of the network in urban areas would lead to the installation of a strong radiating mobile communications antenna approximately every 100m, producing a radiation tsunami and taking up to a thousandfold increase in the transmission of power,” Ekwunife said.

She raised the concerns of first world countries that had halted the installation of 5G indefinitely.

“Several countries, including Switzerland, one of the world’s 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,” Ekwunife said.

She also asked that members of the commission take into account the concerns raised by some scientists and medical experts on the possible dangers surrounding 5G towers.

“The emissions from 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 and immune systems,” Ekwunife said.

A suspension has been granted until a full-scale investigation is completed. |