NCC: We never said mobile phone can cause cancer

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has denied saying mobile phones can cause cancer.

There have been reports that the commission made the statement during its stakeholder forum in Ado Ekiti, Ekiti state capital.

Reacting through a statement, Omoniyi Ibietan, NCC’s head of online media, described such reports as totally false.

“To put the records straight, at the event, the commission’s representative told the participants to ensure that the devices they sell and use are type approved – certified by the NCC in compliance with the regulations and guidelines of the commission,” the statement read.

The NCC restated its commitment “not only to the protection of consumer rights but also to consumers’ education.”

It highlighted some of the studies conducted on the effects of non-ionising radiation, adding that “there is no conclusive evidence that non-ionising radiation increases the risk of cancer”.

“The general public may wish to visit: www.icnirp.org; www.cancer.co.uk; www.emf-portal.org where studies, writings and other scholarly works related to this matter have been published.

“Indeed, according to the World Health Organisation: ‘A large number of studies have been performed over the last two decades to assess whether mobile phones pose a potential health risk. To date, no adverse health effects have been established as being caused by mobile phone use’.

“The international commission on non-Ionising radiation protection also states: ‘Acute and long-term effects of HF exposure from the use of mobile phones have been studied extensively without showing any conclusive evidence of adverse health effects’.

“Finally, there is a parameter called specific absorption rate (SAR) which has a threshold below which it is safe to use a phone, and all phones approved by the commission have SAR below the threshold mark which make those phones safe for use.”