The Minister of Communication and Digital Economy, Dr Isa
Pantami, disclosed this in Abuja when he featured on FORUM, a special News
Agency of Nigeria (NAN) interview programme.
The minister said that the decision to deploy the 5G network
followed an outcome of thorough investigations, research and trial absolving it
of posing security or health threat.
According to him, the work on the national policy on 5G
stands at 95 per cent done and will be presented to the Federal Executive
Council (FEC) in due course.
Pantami, who said that the primary concern of government was
to ensure security and welfare of Nigerians in their utilisation of services in
the telecommunications sector, blamed the delay in the deployment of the 5G
network on conspiracy theories.
NAN recalls that there were concerns that COVID-19 was
associated with the deployment of the 5G communications network.
“Our government is a listening one; so we listen to
constructive criticisms, respect it and appreciate it and at least we value it.
“We’d reached advanced stage of 5G, then, an issue came up
that 5G was related to COVID-19; many people including the educated ones
started circulating it without verification.
“Naturally, people are a bit scared and sceptical about
technology.
“So we gave enough time to do more consultation, creating
awareness in local languages so as to engage our citizens to address all the
challenges.
“We set up a technical team that accommodated security,
health and environmental institutions and the public sector so that we can be
on the same page.
“I want to give you the assurance that 5G communication
network is in the pipeline.”
Pantami said that the ministry had started discussions with
the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) concerning spectrum for commercial
purposes.
“From that spectrum, NCC will give it to mobile operators to
start deployment; so, the policy is almost ready.
“I went to the National Assembly, I defended our
presentation and they have accepted and they have also endorsed the deployment
of 5G.
“They have also encouraged us to learn from other countries
that have deployed 5G and we have already done that.
“The World Health Organisation (WHO) has issued a statement
that there is no relationship between 5G network and COVID-19 and that
addresses the health issue.
“Similarly, the International Communications Union (ICU),
which is an arm of the UN, also issued another statement debunking any
implications from the 5G,” Pantami said.