The National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) has dissociated itself from statement of Lai Mohammed’s statement ordering the stop of BigBrother Naija (BBNaija 2020).
Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the Nigeria Minister of Information and Culture, on Wednesday, the NBC to halt the transmission of TV reality show, Big Brother Naija, saying that the need to stop the reality show, which entered its fifth season on July 20, became imperative due to the coronavirus pandemic.
This message according to TheCable, was communicated by the Acting Director-General of the NBC, Armstrong Idachaba, to senior management members of the commission on a meeting.
Mohammed reportedly wanted the letter shutting down the show to come from the NBC because of the general opinion that he is bent on sending MultiChoice Ltd, producers of the show, out of Nigeria.
A director had told the meeting that the NBC had on July 1 sought an explanation from Multichoice Ltd on a possible violation of COVID-19 protocol with the airing of the show.
MultiChoice Ltd had subsequently replied the NBC stating the measures taken to forestall any violation of the Covid-19 protocol advised by the Presidential Task Force on Covid-19, adding that the Lagos State Safety Commission gave approval for the show.
The organisers also said housemates went through mandatory two-week isolation before the commencement of the show and that the BBN House had been disinfected and rearranged to ensure physical distancing, in addition to the elimination of live audience.
But through Daily Trust on Friday night, Dr Armstrong Idachaba again said it was not true that BBNaija had been suspended.
Dr Idachaba dissociated the NBC from the report and urged Nigerians to disregard it.
The Big Brother Naija Season 5 premiered on July 19.
Winner of Season 5 BBNaija will get a cash prize worth N85million, the highest so far since the inception of the show.
In addition is a two-bedroom apartment, Champions League finale trip, one-year supply of Pepsi, branded chiller, a trip to Dublin, home appliances including TV, premium fridge and several other prizes.
