Nigeria is one of the few African countries where 5G is operational. The country wants to leverage this technology to tackle security issues.

President Muhammadu Buhari (pictured) presided over the launch of the national policy on fifth-generation networks (5G) on Tuesday 25 January in Abuja. He sees this technology as a tool for development.

"The 5G network is a viable platform for security institutions to build on to address the security challenges that have affected the country. They will use the potential of digital technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), robotics, etc. that mine information in real-time for maximum efficiency," explained, Nigeria's Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, during his presentation. He said the official launch of the 5G network in Nigeria is part of the federal government's commitment to developing a thriving digital economy.

The national policy on 5G networks was approved by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) on September 8, 2021, after a series of multi-stakeholder trials and engagements that eliminated perceived health risks. As a result, on December 13, 2021, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) auctioned the 3.5 GHz spectrum for fifth-generation (5G) network licenses. MTN Nigeria and Mafab Communications were the winners.

Muhammadu Buhari said 5G technologies could support virtually every sector of the economy, including improving connectivity, healthcare, and education while promoting smart cities and boosting agriculture. The president instructed all security institutions in the country to adopt 5G when it is deployed to enhance national security.

Isaac K. Kassouwi