A few days ago, the Nigerian Broadcasting Commission fined a radio station in Jos to the tune of N100,000 for playing the song ‘This Is Nigeria‘ by Falz which they said was unfit for airplay because of the line, “This is Nigeria, look how we living now. Everybody be criminal,” stating that it made the song vulgar and it was in contravention of Section 3.6.1 and 3.13.2.2 of its constitution.
Reacting to the ban of the song, Falz in an interview with Punch said he felt it was ridiculous for the commission to ban the song, arguing that it was not a vulgar song but a socially conscious piece of art which addresses the current issues in the country.
In his words, “there is absolutely nothing vulgar about the song and I think it is ridiculous that the Nigerian Broadcast Commission singled out the least vulgar line in the song and ascribed it to be the reason they banned the song. It is a very simple and clean song. The only thing is that I was very blunt about the way I talk about things. I do not know maybe some messages in the song hit them and that is the real reason they banned the song. The line was, ‘This is Nigeria, look how we living now. Everybody be criminal.’ If they ban this song, then I do not understand them because that song is definitely not a vulgar song.”
He added that “I do not know if the fact that some group wanted me to retract the song is linked with this new development but I know that there were a lot of messages in the song and it is hitting a lot of people in the wrong places and that is what is making them react in that manner. However, there was absolutely no basis for the NBC to ban that song. I am going to have to write to them through my lawyers to find out what is really going on. When I find out the reason behind the ban, I could ask them to lift it if need be and if they do not adhere to my request, I might have to seek legal redress”.
