A Civil Society Organization (CSO), the Open Justice Initiative (OJI), has warned the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) that it will take legal action if the commission does not prohibit Netflix, TikTok, and other platforms from broadcasting allegedly offensive same-sex content on Nigeria’s airwaves.
The CSO also urged NBC to ban other social media platforms, such as X, formerly known as Twitter, Facebook, and others, regarding the matter. Donald Ayibiowu, a lawyer and program officer at OJI, issued the warning in a letter to the NBC Director-General, Mr. Charles Ebuebu.
The letter, 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”, was received by the commission on April 23, 2024.
The letter states, “We write to draw the esteem attention of your commission to some obnoxious and repugnant same-sex contents being aired or transmitted by some broadcast outfits operating within the Nigeria broadcast space, which platforms includes 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/materials on these platforms are laced with embedded scenes/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 same hazardous and illegal same-sex content 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 same through entertainment and showbiz industry, 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 extant laws such as Sections 4(2) and 5(2} of the Same-Sex Mariage (Prohibition) Act, 2013.”
