CSO threatens to sue NBC over alleged offensive contents on Netflix, tiktok, others
A civil society organisation (CSO) has threatened to drag the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) to court if it fails to ban Netflix, TikTok, and others over the alleged broadcast of offensive same-sex contents on Nigeria’s airwaves.
The CSO, under the auspices of the Open Justice Initiative (OJI), also urged the NBC to ban other social media platforms, including X, formerly known as Twitter, Facebook, etc., with regards to the subject matter.
A lawyer and programme officer of OJI, Donald Ayibiowu, gave the warning in a letter addressed to the Director-General of NBC, Mr. Charles Ebuebu.
The certified true copy of the letter made available to newsmen on Tuesday in Abuja, dated April 13, was received by the commission on April 23.
It was titled, “Need to Ban and Bar the Continuous Broadcast of Offensive Same-Sex Contents on Nigeria’s Airwaves by Netflix and Other Specialised Broadcast Outlets.”
“We write to draw the attention of your commission to some obnoxious and repugnant same-sex contents being aired or transmitted by some broadcast outfits operating within the Nigerian broadcast space, which platforms include Netflix and some social media entities.
“These abhorrent contents being campaigned about borders on the promotion of amorous relationships between persons of same-sex on the said platforms.
“We received complaints on this topic from well-meaning Nigerians and religious organisations and further discovered that the broadcast contents and materials on these platforms are laced with embedded scenes and episodes where same-sex relationships are practically being propagated.
“We also conducted research on some social media platforms like TikTok, Twitter (X), Facebook (Meta), etc. with regards to this subject and found the same hazardous and illegal same-sex contents being promoted and transmitted.
“It is clear that there is an agenda to surreptitiously lure the unsuspecting young population of this country to this satanic habit/lifestyle of same-sex practice in Nigeria by subtly introducing the same through the entertainment and showbiz industries, albeit through the airwaves.
“It is now commonplace to see some of these illegal contents being conveyed on social media and specialised platforms in Nigeria.
“We wish to point out that these contents are clearly being aired or transmitted in contravention of our existing laws, such as Sections 4(2) and 5(2) of the Same-Sex Marriage (Prohibition) Act, 2013,” he said
The lawyer said that the act being subtly propagated and promoted via these mediums was targeted at destroying the moral fibre and rectitude; erode, dislodge and pollute society with unacceptable inhuman values.
He said it was also to erode the age-long cultural practices and sacred religious belief systems of male and female gender only as created by God Almighty.
Ayibiowu, therefore, called on the NBC to take immediate step to get these platforms to rein in these illegal contents from airing, being distributed or transmitted in any form in the country.
According to him, if the commission fails to block, restrict, or scrap this same-sex promotional material and content from Nigerian airwaves, we shall proceed to seek further redress in pursuit of our goal of saner Nigerian airwaves.
It would be recalled that Netflix, like others, is an American subscription video on-demand over-the-top streaming service.
According to Wikipedia, the service primarily distributes original and acquired films and television shows from various genres, and it is available internationally in multiple languages.
