Covid-19: Senate tells Buhari to suspend deployment of 5G network

The Nigerian Senate has asked the federal government to suspend the planned deployment of 5G network in the country pending an investigation - Senator Ekwunife...

 said there is need for the federal government to assure Nigerians about the safety of the 5G network - The lawmaker noted the uncertainties surrounding whether 5G network in Nigeria will continue to fuel the rumours about health hazards.

The Nigerian Senate has asked the federal government to suspend the planned deployment of the 5G network in the country. The upper chamber of the National Assembly made the demand on Tuesday, May 5, after the deliberation on a motion by Senator Uche Ekwunife. The Senate has asked the federal government to suspend the planned deployment of the 5G in the country pending an investigation.

Ekwunife in her motion argued that there was need for the federal government to assure Nigerians about the safety of the 5G network. The lawmaker stated that there were concerns by some scientists and medical experts that emission from 5G towers could adversely affect the health of citizens by causing symptoms like damage to the eyes and immune systems, among other adverse effects. 

According to the Senator, the uncertainties surrounding whether 5G network was in Nigeria will continue to fuel the speculations and rumours concerning its effects on the Nigerian citizens. She said that it was important to investigate the status of 5G network in Nigeria to ensure that Nigerians citizens are not exposed to any harm. In response to her motion, the Senate directed the concerned committees to investigate the technological impact of the network on Nigerians and report back to plenary within two weeks. 

The red chamber also asked the relevant federal agency supervising the ICT operations in the country to suspend the 5G deployment until a thorough probe to determine the health implications of the technology. 

Meanwhile, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has dismissed the Fifth Generation Network (5G) coronavirus conspiracy theory and declared that viruses cannot travel on radio waves or mobile networks. The organisation said in a statement on Friday, April 10 that contrary to the theory, COVID-19 is a respiratory disease which is spread through respiratory droplets when an infected person coughs, sneezes or speaks. “People can also be infected by touching a contaminated surface and then their eyes, mouth or nose,”