Big Brother Naija: Lagos Lawmaker Insists NBC Must End Reality Show

A Lagos lawmaker, Hon. Segun Olulade has called on the federal government and the NBC to stop airing the popular Big Brother Naija show because it promotes immorality and is alien to the Nigerian culture.



In a statement, Olulade who is the Chairman of the Lagos State House of Assembly Committee on Health Services, advised the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed on the negative implications of Big Brother Naija on the nation’s culture and youths.

Hon. Olulade ( APC ) representing Epe II at the Assembly, opined that the present administration which has tried to promote culture and indigenous values should not be encouraging the spread of obscenity on TV. In his words;
“We have culture and tradition in this country that we must not allow to die. The Federal Government, through the Minister of Information and Culture, needs to reconsider the implications of Big Brother Naija on our culture and youths.

“The content of Big Brother Naija reality show is alien to our culture. This show is contrary to the rich cultural values we are trying to promote and bring to the front burner.

“It is sad that our young children including adults are made to watch such content. This kind of programme promotes obscenity and immorality.

“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.

According to Oluade, if this government really means business in the promotion of our cultural values, then the Nigeria Broadcasting Commission (NBC) should immediately swing into action and stop the programme before it causes serious damage to our culture.

The lawmaker stressed that the show does not add any value to our education, social and economic life, and is a big mockery of the Nigerian culture and tradition.

Olulade, who is the immediate past Chairman, House Committee on Information, Publicity, Security and Strategy, said that the housemates in the show, being Nigerians, should have portrayed the Nigerian cultural heritage instead of bastardising it.

A programme like Big Brother Naija iss capable of causing distractions to the Nigerian youth and affecting many families, Oluade opined.

He further urged all parents and guardians to be on guard and guide their children and wards aright on what they watch on TV as watching the BBNaija show may have negative implications on children. He said; “Our children should not be allowed to be corrupt because this may affect their future aspiration.”

Big Brother Naija is a Reality TV Show aired by Africa Magic on Dstv and sponsored by PayPorte, an online shopping platform.
Similarly, BuzzNigeria investigations reveal that a non-governmental organization, called CitizenGO, is currently garnering votes online to terminate airing the reality TV show.

The group aimed at getting 5,000 signatures, in the least, already has about 3,160 signatures and has reportedly sent their petition to policy makers, the National Broadcasting Commission, the Presidency and the public.

The group described Big Brother Naija as a corruption of TV Reality shows, a celebration of obscenity, eroticism and idleness. But more importantly, a big mockery of Nigerian culture and traditions. Their petition reads;
“The Nigerian public is complaining about the moral perversity in the House of the Big Brother Nigeria. In one episode last two weeks or so, the inmates were shown openly kissing and caressing one another…
“Since the housemates are Nigerians, they should have been projecting the Nigerian cultural heritage. But instead of doing that, they are bastardizing it.

“The biggest tragedy of the on-going Big Brother Nigeria is that our children are also glued to the TV screen watching it. Children are our future. Therefore we should protect them from lewd exposure, which might prevent their growth into free, independent and well-developed citizens.

The group said NBC must live up to its bidding as a body charged with controlling, monitoring, regulating the electronic media and monitoring of satellite transmission in Nigeria, by not letting our TV stations become dumping grounds for all sorts of immoral programs.