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Arewa Youths Tag Big Brother Naija A “Calamity,” Seek Ban

By Michael Bamidele

06 August 2021   |   6:38 pm

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The Arewa Youths Advisory Forum has described Big Brother Naija as a "calamity" and called on Federal Government to ban the Nigerian reality TV show. Speaking to newsmen on Friday, the National President of the forum, Yerima Shettima, said the show, which is currently airing on two major satellite TV channels, encourages immorality. "It’s a…

Big Brother Naija

The Arewa Youths Advisory Forum has described Big Brother Naija as a “calamity” and called on Federal Government to ban the Nigerian reality TV show.

Speaking to newsmen on Friday, the National President of the forum, Yerima Shettima, said the show, which is currently airing on two major satellite TV channels, encourages immorality.

“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,” Shettima said.

“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.”

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.

“The Federal Government, through the Minister of Information and Culture, needs to reconsider the implications of Big Brother Naija on our culture and youths… We must not encourage such if our hallowed cultural heritage would be preserved. We cannot prevent our inquisitive young ones from watching the obscene displays that permeate the show.

“I think the Nigeria Broadcasting Commission (NBC) should, without delay, stop this programme if this government means business in the promotion of our cultural values. The show does not add any value to our education, social and economic life. It is a big mockery of Nigerian culture and tradition,’’ Olulade said.

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.”

Big Brother Naija, also known as BBNaija, is a Nigerian reality competition television series, based on the Big Brother television franchise, in which, contestants live in an isolated house and compete for a large cash prize and other material prizes, at the end of the show by avoiding being evicted from the house by viewers who vote for their favourite housemates to remain in the show.