Human rights lawyer Maduabuchi Idam has formally petitioned the Director General of the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), urging the regulatory body to prohibit the airing of the Big Brother Naija reality TV show.

According to Idam, the show should either be banned or subject to stricter regulations because it allegedly promotes content that is obscene, indecent, and profane, which goes against the guidelines set by the NBC Act of 1999.

He pointed out that, even in its second week, the program has been marked by blatant displays of obscene and pornographic conduct in real-time.

The rights lawyer in the petition tagged: “Urgent need to ban or regulate the content of the television programme described as “Big Brother Naija” for obscene, indecent, and profane content, pursuant to the NBa. Act 1999,” warned that failure to address the concerns raised within 30 days, he would seek legal redress in the court of law.

According to Idam: “Concerned about the brazen obscenity and profane contents showcased by the television program described as “Big Brother Naija” which is also freely broadcasted on the social media by the host company, I am constrained as a Nigerian citizen and a public interest lawyer to write this letter demanding the immediate ban or proper regulation of the program in order to have same consumed exclusively by the target audience.

“The program which is currently on the second week of its 10th edition, has been characterised with the brazen exhibition of real-time obscene and pornographic actions, thereby questioning the position of the NBC regarding its regulatory mandate to such television broadcasts.

“The NBC in the recent past, has sanctioned or banned several music videos such as; “Don’t Stop” by Olamide, “Tesojue” by Reminisce, “Tony Montana” by Nato C and Olamide, “Yayo” by Phyno, “In my bed” by Wizkid and several other videos, considered as promoting public indecency and pornography—despite approval by their audiences. Therefore, it becomes perplexing to find that the NBC has remained mute or unconcerned in the face of the program, Big Brother Naija, despite its obvious explicit content.

“I write, not as one who is unaware of the fact that the program is rated 18 (which presupposes that the content is offered only for adults), but as a Nigerian who genuinely shares the concern of several other Nigerians about the danger that such a program poses to public decency and morality. Therefore, I demand that the NBC should (if not totally ban) adequately restrict the program, to be exclusively reserved for its target audience such that underage children or uninterested members of the public would not accidentally come in contact with it either on television or social media.

“I am also outraged that the program is not only aired on national TV, but its profane content is also often proudly shared on the verified social media handles of the host company, in total disregard to public morality and decency.”

He charged NBC to regulate the BBNaija programme because it has not offered any educative, artistic, scientific, or literary value to the society.

“The regulation of the “Big Brother Naija” program which neither offers educative, artistic, scientific nor literary value has become necessary, in order to preserve and salvage the wreckage of our dear society, which is already challenged by several vices such as insecurity amongst others; being the aftermath of the unregulated social activities as the “Big Brother Naija” programs whose negative effect on the moral sensibilities of the Nigerian public cannot be underestimated.

“The NBC is by this letter urged to within thirty (30) days, regulate the “Big Brother Naija” program by permitting it only to be aired on highly restricted channels, reversed for its target audience and also prohibiting the sharing or decimination of the explicit contents by the host company, on social media.

“TAKE NOTICE that in the event of failure to comply with the demand herein, I shall be constrained to seek necessary redress in the court of competent jurisdiction.

“Accept the assurance of my professional regards,” he added.

ASA