Ban Big Brother Naija! – Arewa Youths protest to FG

August 7, 2021August 7, 2021 Empire

The Arewa Youth Advisory Forum (AYCF) has called on the Federal Government to ban Nigeria’s reality show, Big Brother Naija.

The National President of the forum, Yerima Shettima, in an interview with Newsmen, described the show as a calamity and urged the government to restrict its transmission.

“It’s a calamity for me; I never believed in BBNaija and I don’t think it’s fair because the show is an act of immorality. Such a spectacle should not be encouraged. I have often said that this show encourages immorality and that the Nigerian government should ban it, it should not be allowed to be broadcast in our country.

You see, a lot of people are watching to see acts of immorality, these sexual things flaunting their nudity, and they made it look like a ‘blue film’, so that is to be discouraged. I urge true lovers of the country to join hands and draw the government’s attention to the implication of this program which should be discouraged.”

BBNaija is a reality show in which contestants live in an isolated house and compete for a large cash prize at the end of the show, by avoiding being evicted by viewers. The sixth edition of the show tagged: ‘Shine Ya Eyes’, is ongoing. However, this is not the first time calls have been made to ban the reality show in Nigeria.

In 2017, a Lagos lawmaker, Mr Segun Olulade called on the Federal Government to ban the show. According to him, the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration which has tried to promote culture and indigenous values should not be seen to be encouraging the spread of obscenity on TV.

And in 2019, the Director-General, National Council for Arts and Culture, Otunba Segun Runsewe, revealed that the Federal Government of Nigeria had lodged a complaint with the National Broadcasting Commission over the sexual content on Big Brother Naija.

Runsewe added: “I will take up the issue of Big Brother Naija; I have spoken with officials of the National Broadcasting Commission because what is going on now is terrible. Having love affairs on screen is not part of our own culture at all.”