Big Brother Naija Content ‘Indecent, Morally Corrosive’ – Lawyer Petitions NBC, Demands Urgent Ban

A public interest lawyer based in Abuja, M.O. Idam, Esq., has formally petitioned the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), urging the regulatory body to immediately ban or strictly regulate the reality television show Big Brother Naija, citing “obscene, indecent, and profane content” being aired both on national television and widely disseminated across social media.

In a strongly worded letter made available to BarristerNG and addressed to the Director-General of NBC, Idam expressed grave concern over what he described as the brazen display of “real-time obscene and pornographic actions” in the ongoing 10th edition of the show, currently in its second week.

“The NBC has in the past banned several music videos deemed indecent, yet has remained conspicuously silent in the face of the overtly explicit content on Big Brother Naija,” Idam noted, referencing past sanctions placed on popular artists like Olamide, Phyno, Wizkid, and others for similar violations of public morality.

While acknowledging that the program is rated 18+, the lawyer argued that its continuous broadcast on mainstream media and its unrestricted circulation on social media platforms make it easily accessible to underage viewers and uninterested members of the public.

“Despite the age rating, the program’s unfiltered content is now part of everyday digital exposure. It is harmful, non-educative, and morally corrosive,” he stated. “Its impact on a society already struggling with moral decline and insecurity should not be underestimated.”

Idam further urged the NBC to act within thirty (30) days to restrict the program to highly regulated channels accessible only to adult audiences, and to bar the host company from sharing explicit clips on social media.

“TAKE NOTICE,” the letter warns, “that in the event of failure to comply with the demand herein, I shall be constrained to seek necessary redress in a court of competent jurisdiction.”

Read the full letter below

04/08/2025
The Director-General ,
National Broadcasting Commission (NBC),
Plot 20, Ibrahim Taiwo Street,
Asokoro District, Abuja.

Dear Sir,

URGENT NEED TO BAN OR REGULATE THE CONTENT OF THE TELEVISION PROGRAM DESCRIBED AS “BIG BROTHER NAIJA” FOR OBSCENE, INDECENT AND PROFANE CONTENT, PURSUANT TO THE NBC ACT, 1999

The above subject refers.

2. Concerned about the brazen obscenity and profane contents showcased by the television program described as “Big Brother Naija” which is also freely broadcasted on the social media by the host company, I am constrained as a Nigerian citizen and a public interest lawyer to write this letter demanding the immediate ban or proper regulation of the program in order to have same consumed exclusively by the target audience.

3. The program which is currently on the second week of its 10th edition, has been characterised with the brazen exhibition of real-time obscene and pornographic actions, thereby questioning the position of the NBC regarding its regulatory mandate to such television broadcasts.

4. The NBC in the recent past, has sanctioned or banned several music videos such as; “Don’t Stop” by Olamide, “Tesojue” by Reminisce, “Tony Montana” by Nato C and Olamide, “Yayo” by Phyno, “In my bed” by Wizkid and several other videos, considered as promoting public indecency and pornography—despite approval by their audiences. Therefore, it becomes perplexing to find that the NBC has remained mute or unconcerned in the face of the program, Big Brother Naija, despite its obvious explicit content.

5. I write, not as one who is unaware of the fact that the program is rated 18 (which presupposes that the content is offered only for adults), but as a Nigerian who genuinely shares the concern of several other Nigerians about the danger that such a program poses to public decency and morality. Therefore, I demand that the NBC should (if not totally ban) adequately restrict the program, to be exclusively reserved for its target audience such that underage children or uninterested members of the public would not accidentally come in contact with it either on television or social media.

6. I am also outraged that the program is not only aired on national TV, but its profane content is also often proudly shared on the verified social media handles of the host company, in total disregard to public morality and decency.

7. The regulation of the “Big Brother Naija” program which neither offers educative, artistic, scientific nor literary value has become necessary, in order to preserve and salvage the wreckage of our dear society, which is already challenged by several vices such as insecurity amongst others; being the aftermath of the unregulated social activities as the “Big Brother Naija” programs whose negative effect on the moral sensibilities of the Nigerian public cannot be underestimated.

8. The NBC is by this letter urged to within thirty (30) days, regulate the “Big Brother Naija” program by permitting it only to be aired on highly restricted channels, reversed for its target audience and also prohibiting the sharing or decimination of the explicit contents by the host company, on social media.

TAKE NOTICE that in the event of failure to comply with the demand herein, I shall be constrained to seek necessary redress in the Court of competent jurisdiction.

Accept the assurance of my professional regards.

M.O.Idam, Esq.
m.o.idamattorneys@gmail.com