Technology

5G Network Not Dangerous to Health—Pantami

Published

4 years ago

27/02/2021

By Ahmed Rahma

The Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Mr Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, has stated that there is no known scientific evidence suggesting that the 5G network poses any risks to public health and safety.

He revealed this when he led the heads of agencies under his ministry and other stakeholders to an investigative public hearing by the Senate Joint Committee on Communications; Science and Technology; Information and Communications Technology (ICT) and Cyber Crimes; and Primary Health Care and Communicable Diseases, at the National Assembly Chamber in Abuja on Thursday, February 25, 2021.

Speaking at the public hearing, Mr Pantami affirmed the findings from independent scientific reports published by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and the World Health Organisation (WHO), both agencies of the United Nations (UN), which clearly indicate that there is no health risks to human lives associated with the deployment of 5G.

The Minister said after the initial approval by President Muhammadu Buhari, which led to the commencement of 5G trial in 2019 in selected locations in the country and the subsequent intervention of the National Assembly in 2020, seeking clarifications on probable health risks of 5G deployment, the Ministry had so far undertaken wide-ranging stakeholder consultations to ascertain the safety of 5G networks.

He explained that having aligned with the ITU and WHO reports and studied 5G deployment situations in many advanced countries where it has been fully deployed without any health risks, the ministry can affirmatively say that there is no health risks to 5G networks.

“To this end, we are also working on a 5G deployment policy that will take care of all security, health and safety concerns of Nigerians and we will get the nod of the President after all issues have been addressed before we proceed with our deployment, as we cannot afford to lag behind in the 5G revolution,” he explained.

The Minister further explained that 5G is an enhanced technology over the previous technologies of 4G, 3G and 2G, the three of which have more radiations than the 5G technology, adding that the “radiation from mobile technologies such as 5G is internationally certified by ITU and WHO as non-ionising, meaning such radiation does do not have a harmful effect on human lives and it is far low compared with radiation from a microwave oven that individuals use in their homes.”

Earlier in his address, the President of the Senate, Mr Ahmed Lawan, said the Senate resolved on May 5, 2020, that the joint committee conduct the public hearing, following a motion of public importance and urgency by Mrs Uche Ekwunife, Chairman, Senate Committee on Science and Technology, to resolve all public health and safety concerns around 5G before the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) can proceed with its deployment in Nigeria.

After listening to all the views and submissions by the various stakeholders, the Lead Chairman of the Senate Joint Committee, Mrs Oluremi Tinubu, said that the purpose of the public enquiry was meant to help clarify and allay the fears of any health concerns among Nigerians.

“We hope all the submissions here today which point to the same direction on the safety of 5G to human lives will put the mind of Nigerians at rest that there is nothing to fear.

“We also hope that Nigerians will be looking forward to having 5G deployed in Nigeria,” she said.

Technology

MTN Nigeria Revolutionises Urban Living With MyLagosApp

Published

4 days ago

20/03/2025

Aduragbemi Omiyale

By Aduragbemi Omiyale

A mobile application, MyLagosApp, designed to provide real-time updates on events, entertainment, hospitality, transport services and government-related payments, has been launched by MTN Nigeria in partnership with the Lagos State Government.

The digital platform was created by the Software Lab in MTN, according to the Chief Information Officer of MTN Nigeria, Shoyinka Shodunke, and is embedded with global security standards and practices with ISO 27001 certification.

At the launch of the app last Thursday, it was emphasised that security was a key priority in the design and development of the app to ensure the protection of user data and secure access to the app’s features and functionalities.

MyLagosApp, currently entitled MyCityApp on the app store, is available for download on both Android and iOS platforms. Users have been encouraged to download it to experience firsthand how urban living in Lagos has been transformed with the app.

The Deputy Governor of Lagos, Mr Obafemi Hamzat, while speaking at the unveiling of the app, reinforced the government’s commitment to leveraging technology for enhanced city management and connectivity.

He described it as a demonstration of the administration’s dedication to enhancing the lives of citizens through technological innovation.

“I commend the collaboration between MTN Nigeria and the Lagos State Government, alongside other key stakeholders, for making this vision a reality.

“This partnership is a testament to the power of technology in bridging the gap between the public and private sectors to drive innovation and improve lives.

“The app serves as a vital link between the government and the people, simplifying access to public services, providing real-time updates, and promoting transparency and accountability in governance.

“Whether you need to navigate government processes, access essential city services, or stay informed about key developments, MyLagosApp places all the information you need right at your fingertips,” Mr Hamzat said on behalf of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.

On his part, the chief executive of MTN Nigeria, Mr Karl Toriola, said, “As we embrace the future of e-governance, digital entertainment and commercial innovation, initiatives like this are essential in making Lagos a truly smart city, and we are proud to partner with the Lagos State Government to drive digital transformation and enhance urban living.

“With the launch of MyLagosApp, we are leveraging technology to simplify access to essential services, improve connectivity, and create a smarter, more efficient Lagos for residents and visitors alike.”

Technology

Data Privacy: Nigeria Launches Investigation into TikTok, Truecaller

Published

4 days ago

20/03/2025

Adedapo Adesanya

By Adedapo Adesanya

The Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) has launched an investigation into the data processing practices of Tiktok and Truecaller, amid growing concerns over potential privacy violations.

This was disclosed, the chief executive of NDPC, Mr Vincent Olatunji, at a press conference in Abuja, where he also announced the issuance of the Nigeria Data Protection Act – General Application and Implementation Directive (NDPC act – GAID 2025).

According to Mr Olatunji, the commission is particularly concerned about how these platforms handle Nigerian users’ personal data, including potential breaches of consent, data sharing with third parties, and overall compliance with the Nigeria Data Protection Act (NDPA), 2023.

He said the NDPC is actively investigating the data processing activities of Tiktok and Truecaller to ensure their compliance with Nigeria’s data protection laws.

He noted that the goal was to safeguard the privacy rights of Nigerians and hold organizations accountable for how they collect, store, and use personal data.

The investigation follows increasing scrutiny of global technology companies over data privacy concerns, particularly regarding how personal information is processed, stored, and transmitted beyond national borders.

The NDPC act – GAID, 2025 provides a comprehensive framework for the implementation of Nigeria’s data protection law, setting out specific guidelines for compliance, enforcement mechanisms, and obligations for both private and public sector organisations.

He emphasized that the directive aims to strengthen Nigeria’s digital economy by fostering trust in data governance while ensuring that individuals’ rights to privacy are upheld in line with international best practices.

Mr Olatunji further reiterated that companies operating in Nigeria must align with the country’s data protection regulations or face regulatory actions, including fines and potential restrictions on their operations.

The NDPC has called on the public to report any data privacy violations and reaffirmed its commitment to transparency and due process in its investigations.

The agency stated that reporting data breaches have become easier with dedicated channels of reaching out to the commission from its official website.

Technology

Google Urges Nigerian Businesses to Drive Growth With AI Tools

Published

4 days ago

20/03/2025

Adedapo Adesanya

By Adedapo Adesanya

Google has intensified calls for Nigerian businesses to tap into the potential of artificial intelligence (AI) as data shows how it is fundamentally transforming consumer behavior and creating unprecedented opportunities.

According to Mr Brendon Kraham, Vice President of Search and Commerce, Global Ads Solutions, the numbers show that Google products around the intersection of searching, streaming, scrolling, and shopping can help position businesses for growth.

Amid Nigeria’s economic challenges, technology is proving to be a pathway to drive brand awareness that resort to action.

“We’re observing a significant evolution in how people interact with technology and brands. This evolution is driven by AI and characterized by a multi-modal consumer journey, where searching, streaming, scrolling, and shopping seamlessly intertwine,” Mr Kraham stated.

He added that AI is now powering businesses when it comes to modern search and advertising with Google’s AI Overviews, powered by Gemini, demonstrating how AI can provide richer, more conversational answers, leading to increased user engagement and exploration.

“This shift is reflected in the fact that 15 per cent of daily searches on Google are new, indicating a growing demand for complex, nuanced information,” he explained, adding that, “AI is supercharging search, and allowing for new ways to search, such as with images and voice.”

He explained that for consumers, there has been rising reliance on searching, streaming on YouTube, scrolling through Shorts, and shopping across Google’s platforms evidenced by the rise of visual search with Google Lens, where nearly 20 billion monthly searches demonstrate the power of seeing and searching.

“YouTube’s dominance in streaming, particularly on connected TVs, and the rapid growth of Shorts, further underscore this trend,” he noted.

Mr Kraham stated that Google and YouTube hold a unique position of trust, guiding consumers throughout their purchase journeys with data showing that over a billion daily shopping interactions occur and billions of hours of YouTube content watched.

He called for businesses to leveraged AI-powered tools like Performance Max and Demand Gen to achieve tangible outcomes, painting two success stories in the form of FairMoney and Wakanow.

FairMoney was able to quantify the incremental value of its Google App Campaigns for installs, seeing a 47 per cent increase in installs, 30 per cent increase in loan applications, and a 24 per cent increase in loans disbursed while Wakanow, an online travel platform, saw double booking revenue and achieve a tenfold increase in booking volume, according to data shared with Business Post.

“Marketers who have deeply integrated AI tools report 60 per cent greater revenue growth (BCG),” Mr Kraham noted.

Showing more data, he noted that there was a strong positive outlook on AI’s potential, with 87 per cent believing its benefits outweigh the risks, adding that a vast majority of Nigerians anticipate AI’s positive impact on the economy (81 per cent) and crucial sectors like science and medicine (90 per cent).

“The multi modal consumer journey, with the integration of shopping, search, and video, is very relevant in Nigeria, which is a very mobile first market. The growth of visual search and AI powered shopping tools, will greatly assist Nigerian consumers and businesses,” he said.