The National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) has denied recent ban on songs by Olamide, Davido and 9ice.
A ban notice on ‘Wo’ and ‘Wavy Level’ by Olamide, ‘Fall’ by Davido and ‘Living Things’ by 9ice had been circulating on social media for the past few days.
Director of Broadcast Monitoring at NBC, Idachaba Armstrong, however, told The Cable that the commission has nothing to do with ban speculation.
He said the agency is not in the business of banning songs, saying by virtue of the broadcasting law, radio and television stations are to ensure that songs containing vulgar or suggestive lyrics and visuals are not aired.
“Nobody at NBC issued a statement to the effect. We can’t be issuing a statement on every album released in his country. The broadcaster has the responsibility to do the needful.
“NBC does not ban songs, we don’t have any business with the artistes, it is left for NBC to tell stations to ensure the songs and videos are fit for broadcast before putting them on air.”
“The whole idea of offensive vulgar lyrics is the responsibility of broadcasters to ensure they don’t come on air.
“They are supposed to do what is called gate-keeping and they should have editorial control over their content but broadcasters now carelessly air songs without exercising that editorial discretion.
“They abdicate that responsibility and then expect us to start chasing them,” Armstrong said.
He added though that “I have reliably gathered that some of those songs are actually offensive, regarding the lyrics, some of these songs are for clubs.
“These stations that should practice self-regulation are lazy and unprofessional in their conduct.”
The Federal Ministry of Health recently notified the public that Olamide’ ‘Wo’ violates the 2015 Tobacco Act.
However, the rapper on Tuesday took to Twitter to state that his intention was never to promote smoking.
