The Federal Government of Nigeria has cleared the air on
speculations that it was planning to impose a ban on Big Brother reality
TV show, BBNaija.
Director-General of of the National Council for Arts and Culture,
Otunba Olusegun Runsewe told Vanguard, that government was still
scrutinizing the content of the reality show.
He said: “If they don’t change the content of Big Brother
Naija, I will make a formal report to NBC. I have respect for
constituted authority. I will do the right thing the way it should be
done.
“I like to follow due process. I didn’t go to challenge Big
Brother directly because there is a regulatory body in charge and that’s
why a lot of people commended the approach of making a formal complaint
to the NBC.
“Also, if our youths are in love with such programmes, the time
has come for us to come up with something similar, if they will not
change the content, a platform that will showcase our culture,
heritage,dressing, food and everything about Nigeria could be
preferred.”
Asked to comment on news that government was working on a new programme that will replace BBNaija, Runsewe explained: “No. Generally, we are developing a cultural-content programme which is not to do with Big Brother.
“Big Brother Naija is a brand in its own right. We are not
interested in Big Brother’s brand, we are looking towards a culturally
inclined brand.
“Imagine foreigners seeing us the way we’re being projected on
the show as immoral. It’s not our image, so we have to speak out so that
the whole world will know that it’s not in our character”.