Lai Mohammed, minister of information and culture, has kicked against Big Brother Naija (BBN) and asked the Nigerian Broadcasting Commission (NBC) to stop airing the program, with the increasing spread of COVID-19 in the country.
The fifth edition of the reality show which kicked off on Sunday July 20, is one of the most watched programmes on cable TV in Nigeria.
On Wednesday, Armstrong Idachaba, acting director-general of the NBC, told senior management members that he had been directed by the minister to shut down the show.
According to an insider, the Minister instructed the commission to use fears of spread of COVID-19 as the reason, while citing directives from the presidential task force (PTF).
However, in response, MultiChoice gave 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.
According to MultiChoice, the 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.
Also, all housemates went through a mandatory two-week isolation prior to the show.
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