NSA Afraid 5G Could Harm National Security

The Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA) has expressed fear at the deployment of the 5th Generation (5G) network technology, saying that if wrongly deployed, the technology could pose serious national security problems for the country.

It equally said that the improved telecom technology could allow for eavesdropping, cyber attacks and even espionage by external state players.

Advertisement

Bala Fakandu, the Director of Communications in the Office of the National Security Adviser, disclosed this on Thursday during an investigative public hearing on the present status of 5th Generation (5G) network in Nigeria, its technological impact on Nigeria by the Senate Joint Committee on Communications, Science and Technology, ICT.

Fakandu said earlier the NSA had this concerns with the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) during a test run of the technolog; expressing optimism that the fears of the country’s top security advisory office will be properly addressed in the draft national policy when it is ready.

“We are aware that the deployment of 5G will come with different equipment. We are concerned about eavesdropping I, cyber attacks, espionage by external forces. But they are things that needs to be put in the National policy for operators”.

The NSA however confirmed that up until February 25 no telecom operator in the country has been issued license to deploy (5G) network.

Advertisement

This is as it told the Senate Committees that the Presidency is in agreement with the Minister of Communications, Isa Pantami’s that the country had been ready since September 2020 when the NSA completed its first trial on the technology; to deploy the 5G technology to consumers.

The minister in his submission had said that all that was remaining in the effort to execute the deployment is the drafting of a national policy required to drive the technology in Nigeria.

Patanmi added that when ready, “the NCC being the regulator is expected to come up with its own guidelines for operators.”

“We have completed a significant process we are in the process of completing the final policy formulation and the remaining will be for NCC to come forward with its own regulatory instruments,” he emphasized.

The government also said that it did not just arrive at the resolutions regarding the harmless effects of the technology on human lives without proper and extensive consultations with critical stakeholders including all security agencies and relevant health professionals, even as it reiterated its commitment that government would not compromise on the health and safety of citizens.

Advertisement

On whether it has negative impact on the lives and health of citizen; Pantami said all available research including that of World Health Organization (WHO) and International Telecommunications Union(ITU) have shown there are no adverse health effects.

He said there is no scientific proof linking Covid-19 to the deploy of (5G) technology or indeed any other disease; stressing that the radiation in the current (4G) is more harmful compared to (5G).

According to him, the radiation in the kitchen microwave is more hazardous than the (5G) which he said is an advancement of the (4G).

The Minister appealed to Nigerians to disregard the myths surrounding (5G) and embrace the technology with open hands.

He said when the myth was flying around in Nigeria last April that Covid-19 was caused by radiation from (5G); Lesotho had already deployed the technology and had no case of Covid-19.

Leave a comment

Advertisement