"People are a bit scared and sceptical about 5G technology, Nigeria is ready.." - Pantami

According to the minister of communication, Nigeria is ready to deploy the 5G Network for increased connectivity, Minister of Communication and Digital Economy.

Dr Isa Pantami said 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.

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.