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Nigeria’s Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, has assured that the country was working to gain stakeholders confidence and enlighten people on the benefits of technologies including 5G before such technologies could be commercially rolled out.
“I have no objection to the deployment of 5G technology in Nigeria, but we will work hard to engage with Nigerians to enlighten them on the benefits of the technology.”
Adding that, “we will also allow experts in the field to come up with their recommendations.”
Pantami spoke when he recently received a delegation from the European Union to Nigeria and ECOWAS, led by the Ambassador, Mr Ketil Karlsen.
The EU team was at the Communications and Digital Economy Complex, Abuja to share insight with the minister regarding 5G and other emerging technologies.
Ambassador Karlsen during the official visit enumerated on the benefits of 5G and ability to further make the Nigerian business environment more a conducive to investors.
Pantami in his response informed that all stakeholders including security agencies were carried along during the initial trial of 5G technology last year and they remained part of the discussions in preparatory for the formal approval for commercial rollout.
The minister stressed the importance of warding off fake news and conspiracy theories that tend to undermine the value of new, innovative technologies to development.
Adding that no responsible government will promote “scientifically proven destructive technologies.”
