Rapper, Olamide, has rejected claims that his new song, ‘Wo’, promotes smoking in violation of Nigeria’s Tobacco Ctrl Act 2015.
The allegation was made by the Federal Ministry of Health in a message posted on Twitter on Friday, two days after the song’s video was uploaded to YouTube.
A clip from the video embedded in the tweet shows people smoking while Olamide sings about cigarette.
The public is informed of the dangerous public health content & violation of ?? Tobacco Ctrl Act 2015 in “Wo” by @olamide_YBNL #ClearTheAir pic.twitter.com/oVlUI976yJ
— Health Ministry NGR (@Fmohnigeria) August 18, 2017
The National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) went a step further by banning ‘Wo’ and ‘Wavy Level’ another recent release by Olamide.
Also slammed with the not to be broadcast (NTBB) tag are ‘If Remix’ and ‘Fall’ by Davido and ‘Living Things’ by 9ice.
Reacting in a tweet on Tuesday, Olamide, 22, said he had no intentions of promoting tobacco to get people killed.
He added that he loves his people and his country.
No intentions of promoting tobacco to get people killed, I love my people, I love my country, one love , one Nigeria #ClearTheAir ??Oya Wo !
— Olamide Adedeji (@olamide_YBNL) August 22, 2017
The video of ‘Wo’ was shot in Bariga, Lagos where the artiste was born and raised.
Three winners were given N1million each in a #WoChallenge launched to promote the song and select talents for the video.