The Minister of Communication Technology, Mrs. Omobola Johnson, has said that there is no empirical evidence that telecommunication masts emit harmful substances. However, notwithstanding that position, the minister said that the ministry and regulatory bodies in the telecommunication and environment sectors would ensure that infrastructure was not erected in harmful manner.
According to her, “The Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC) is also doing some advocacy around whether or not the base stations are harmful because there are a lot of researches that had been done by the WHO, the UN and different other agencies… As at today, there is no empirical evidence that emissions from base stations cause harm.’’
Johnson also said that the commission and other agencies would continue to act with caution so as not to endanger the health and safety of the environment and those of people living close to the masts and to other telecommunication infrastructure.
Pointing out that The NCC and the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) had been involved in controversies over who had the statutory mandate to seal a base station that did not comply with safety regulations, she said that her ministry was working with the NCC and NESREA to help resolves this and spell out their functions.
The statements above are very. Research using spectrum analyser has shown that the results of Maximum Power Exposure (MPE)obtained from most Nigerian Masts below the standard values.(Bolaji Ayinmode, 2010)