TheCable

The senate has mandated its committees on health, communications, science and technology to investigate the status of 5G in the country and its health impact on citizens.

The resolution of the senate followed a motion sponsored by Uche Ekwunife, senator representing Anambra central.

The 5G technology has been rumoured to be one of the causes of COVID-19 but TheCable has found that claim to be false.

While moving the motion on the floor of the upper legislative chamber on Tuesday, Ekwunife said there is a need for the technology to be investigated owing to concerns by some experts that emissions from the 5G masts could adversely affect the health of people.

The senator said though Isa Pantami, minister of communications and digital economy, said no 5G licence has been issued to any telecommunication operator, the federal government has expressed willingness to deploy it.

“There is no conclusive proof, nor has it been universally established that the deployment of the 5G network is either harmful to the human body, or is anyway linked to the global pandemic of COVID-19,” she said.

“A lot of countries like South Korea, UK, Germany have successfully deployed and are using the 5G network.

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

“Desirous of investigating the true status of 5G network in Nigeria to ensure that Nigerian citizens are not exposed to unreasonable risk of great bodily harm or injury.”

The motion was adopted after Senate President Ahmad Lawan put it to a voice vote.

The committees are expected to present a report in four weeks.