A radio station in Jos has found itself in trouble with The National Broadcasing Corporation (NBC) as the station has been fined N100,000 for playing Falz’s song “This is Nigeria”.
It was gathered that the NBC wrote a letter to the radio station informing them that Falz’s song titled “This is Nigeria” is “laced with Vulgar Lyrics” and for playing the song, they will be sanctioned.
The lyrics they pointed out that they had a problem with is the part that goes: “This is Nigeria, Look how we living now, everybody be criminal”.
Also the commission fined the station for playing Olamide’s song titled, ‘See Mary, See Jesus”. The letter says – Mary and Jesus are regarded as sacred by the Christian faith and as such contravenes section 4.3.1.
The station was also cautioned for playing Wande Coal’s ‘Iskaba’ with the lyrics “Girl You Dey Make Me Kolo, shaking the ass like Kolo” which NBC says is Vulgar.
NBC has asked the station to pay N100,000 within two weeks else they will be made to face stiffer sanctions.
Meanwhile, Economic Rights And Accountability Project (SERAP) has called on the NBC to immediately lift the recent ban on Jay FM 101.9 Jos and songs such as Falz’s, “This is Nigeria”, Wande Coal’s Iskaba and Olamide’s “See Mary See Jesus”.
The organisation said the action by the NBC “amounts to illegal restrictions on media freedom, the right to freedom of opinion and expression and free information and ideas”.
SERAP in a statement signed by its Deputy Director, Timothy Adewale, last Sunday expressed “concern about the censorship of the media and songs deemed “Vulgar and indecent” by the NBC as such action risks undermining legitimate expression and independent voices.
The NBC must immediately lift the ban on the station and rescind the arbitrary fine”.
The organisation said the right to freedom of expression, information and ideas is applicable not only to comfortable in offensive or politically correct opinions, but also to ideas that offend and shock. The constant confrontation of ideas even controversial ones, is a stepping stone to achieving a vibrant democratic society, transparency accountability and respect for the rule of law.
“The NBC is adopting Vague rules, Vulgarity and indecency to undermine freedom of expression, right to information and opinion. By banning the radio station from playing the songs, the NBC is not only undermining and harmony the station, but also undermining everyone’s right to information, public participation and open and democratic governance.
“Article 19 of the international covenant on Civil and Political Rights to which Nigeria is a state partly includes the rights of individuals to criticize or openly and Publicly evaluate their governments without fear of interference or punishment.
“It is important for the NBC to strive to promote diversity of views and the media is importance as a platform for public debate about important matters of public interest and ideas. Censorship or impermissible restrictions in the exercise of media freedom and freedom of expression can restrict free circulation of ideas and opinion and impose obstacles to the free flow of information.
“Freedom of the press and other news media afford the public one of the best means of discovering and forming an opinion of the ideas on political and social issues and other issues of public interest.
Not only does the NBC have the task of ensuring that radio stations and other media organisations com function effectively to impact such information and ideas: the public also has a right to receive them”.