COVID-19: NBC Reportedly Ordered to Shut Down BBN

The Nigerian Broadcasting Commission (NBC) has disclosed that the Federal Government has ordered the organization to shut down Big Brother Naija (BBN) over COVID-19.

This was made known by the acting director-general of the NBC, Armstrong Idachaba, on Wednesday to senior members of the organization stating that the minister of information and culture, Lai Mohammed, directed that the show be shut down.

It was also gathered that the NBC management was not well disposed to the move to shut down BBN, with some of them saying there was no basis for it.

A director is said to have reminded the meeting that NBC had already sought an explanation from Multichoice on a possible violation of COVID-19 protocols with the airing of the show. The letter was sent on July 1, before the show began.

MultiChoice replied with detailed explanations on measures taken in collaboration with the Lagos state government, whose agency, Lagos State Safety Commission, gave the green light for the show.

Also, MultiChoice said in the letter that housemates had been screened prior to the show and that the BBN House had been decontaminated and adapted to ensure sufficient physical distancing, in addition to eliminating the use of live audience.

All housemates went through mandatory two-week isolation during which COVID-19 symptoms would have manifested if they had the disease.

A second director is said to have told the meeting that participants of the show had maintained the safety protocols, notably generous use of hand sanitizer since it started on Sunday.

Idachaba, who is reportedly fighting to be confirmed as the substantive DG, was asked to request the minister for a written directive.

However, the acting DG was said to have told the meeting that he would have no other option than to carry out Mohammed’s order.