NBC Denies Banning Olamide, Davido’s Songs

The National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) has said it did not ban songs of Olamide, Davido, and 9ice from being aired across the Nigerian airwaves.

Recall that on Tuesday it was widely reported that the NBC put a ban on five Nigerian songs, which includes Olamide‘s “Wo” and “Wavy Level“; Davido‘s “Fall” and “If (Remix)”; and 9ice’s “Living Things.”

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However, speaking to TheCable Lifestyle, Idachaba Armstrong, director of broadcast monitoring at the NBC said the commission is not in the business of banning songs.

“First of all, NBC is a commission, not a corporation,” he said.

“Nobody at NBC issued a statement to the effect. We can’t be issuing a statement on every album released in this country. The broadcaster has the responsibility to do the needful.

“NBC does not ban songs, we don’t have any business with the artistes. It is left for NBC to tell stations to ensure the songs and videos are fit for broadcast before putting them on air.”

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Armstrong however was of the opinion that the said songs are actually offensive, calling on broadcasting stations across the country to throw-out songs that are not suitable for broadcast.

“The whole idea of offensive vulgar lyrics. It is the responsibility of broadcasters to ensure they don’t come on air,” he told TheCable Lifestyle.

“They are supposed to do what is called gate-keeping and they should have editorial control over their content but broadcasters now carelessly air songs without exercising that editorial discretion.

“They abdicate that responsibility and then expect us to start chasing them.
“I have reliably gathered that some of those songs are actually offensive, regarding the lyrics. Some of these songs are for clubs.

“These stations that should practice self-regulation are lazy and unprofessional in their conduct.”

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The Federal Ministry of Health had in a tweet on Friday slammed Olamide’s “Wo” for violating “Nigeria’s Tobacco Control Act of 2015”.

According to the 2015 Tobacco Control Act, it is prohibited to promote or advertise tobacco or tobacco products except between a manufacturer, retailer and consenting persons above 18 years of age.

“No person shall promote or advertise tobacco or tobacco products in any form.

“No person shall engage or participate in any tobacco advertising, promotion or sponsorship as a media or event organizer, celebrity or other participant,” it read.

According to the 2015 law, anyone who violates the law faces the risk of a fine and jail term of not more than one year.

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