5G Network: Senate Asks FG To Suspend Its Deployment

By Akinwale Kasali

The Ahmed Lawan-led Senate has asked the Federal Government to immediately suspend the 5th Generation (5G) Network Deployment. The deployment has generated questions and uproar globally.

The Senate made the call at its sitting Tuesday, 5th May, 2020.

The Red chamber stated this after the deliberation on a motion by Senator Uche Ekwunife, drawing the attention of the Senators to the status of the 5G network in the country.

Ekwunife said her motion was borne out of the need to assure Nigerians of their safety by asking the Federal Government to postpone the launch until a proper investigation is carried out to ascertain its benefit, implications (Health and Economic) and also to allay the fears of Nigerians.

The Deputy Majority Leader, Senator Ajayi Boroffice, said the 5G network deployment remained a controversial issue that needs  urgent attention to ascertain what it basically offers.

He said the experts should be allowed to handle it and deliberate on the merits and demerits of its deployment.

Corroborating his other colleagues, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele said it would be irresponsible of any government to subscribe to a technology that won’t be safe for its citizens.

He noted that no scientific research has been done by any agency of the Federal Government on the 5G network, adding that countries in Europe were already investigating the implications of the deployment and wondered why Nigeria had yet to do so.

The Senate, therefore, asked its Committees on Communication, Science, Technology and ICT, and that of Health to conduct a thorough investigation with a view to determining the status of the 5G network in the country.

In the interim, the Red chamber asked the relevant federal agency supervising the ICT operations in the country to suspend the 5G deployment until a thorough probe to determine its suitability for human health had been achieved.

The joint committees were asked to submit its report within four weeks.