NBC underfire for banning Falz's 'This is Nigeria', Olamide's 'See Marry see Jesus' and others.

Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability
Project (SERAP), has called on the National
Broadcasting Commission (NBC)to
lift the recent ban on Jay FM 101.9 Jos and
songs such as Falz’s ‘This is Nigeria’, Wande
Coal’s ‘Iskaba’ and Olamide’s ‘See Mary, See
Jesus’ immediately.
The organization said the action by the NBC
“amounts to illegal restrictions on media
freedom, the right to freedom of opinion and
expression and free information and ideas.”
SERAP in a statement signed by its Deputy
Director, Timothy Adewale, on Sunday,
expressed “Concern about the censorship of the
media and songs deemed ‘vulgar and indecent’
by the NBC, as such action risks undermining
legitimate expression and independent voices.
The NBC must immediately lift the ban on the
radio station and rescind the arbitrary fine.”
The organization said, “The right to freedom of
information,expression and ideas is applicable
not only to comfortable, inoffensive or politically
correct opinions, but also to ideas that offend,
shock and disturb. The constant confrontation
of ideas, even controversial ones, is a stepping
stone to achieving a vibrant democratic society,accountability,
transparency and respect for
the rule of law.
“Vague rules on vulgarity and indecency should
not be used subjectively to ban or fine
independent media outlets, particularly radio
and television channels. The action by the NBC
can create an uncertain environment for radio
and television stations and media professionals
in general and lead to fostering self-censorship
and shunning any meaningful criticism of public
policies and authorities.
“The NBC is adopting vague rules vulgarity and
indecency to undermine freedom of expression,
right to information and opinion. By banning the
radio station from playing the songs, the NBC is
not only undermining and harming the station,
but also undermining everyone’s right to
information, public participation and open and
democratic governance
“Article 19 of the International Covenant on
Civil and Political Rights to which Nigeria is a
state party includes the right of individuals to
criticize or openly and publicly evaluate their
Governments without fear of interference or
punishment.
“It is important for the NBC to strive to
promote diversity of views, and the media’s
importance as a platform for public debate about
important matters of public interest.Impermissible restrictions in the
exercise of media freedom and freedom of
expression can restrict free circulation of ideas
and opinions and impose obstacles to the free
flow of information.
“Freedom of the press and other news media
afford the public one of the best means of
discovering and forming an opinion of the ideas
on political and social issues and other issues of
public interest. Not only does the NBC have the
task of ensuring that radio stations and other
media organizations can function effectively to
impart such ideas and information: the public
also has a right to receive them.