Dr. Shaibu Husseini, the Executive Director/CEO of the National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB), announced that the Federal Government has approved a ban on depicting money rituals and glamorizing vices in Nigerian films.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that Husseini made this announcement during a National Stakeholders Engagement on Smoke-Free Nollywood in Enugu on Wednesday. This event was organized by the NFVCB in collaboration with Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA).
Attendees included movie producers, directors, actors from across the country, and leaders of various guilds and associations within the Nigerian film industry.
Husseini highlighted the current crisis in the industry, necessitating bold actions from all stakeholders, including parents and guardians.
He explained, “When my predecessor approached the former Minister of Information, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, about creating a subsidiary legislation to limit smoking scenes in Nigerian movies, the need to address money rituals was also recognized. Additional regulations include banning depictions of ritual killings and the glamorization of other crimes to further cleanse the film industry.”
Husseini announced that the Minister of Arts, Culture, and the Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa, has approved the regulation under section 65 of the NFVCB Act 2004.
The new regulation, titled “Prohibition of Money Ritual, Ritual Killing, Tobacco, Tobacco Products, Nicotine Product Promotion and Glamorisation Display in Movies, Musical Videos, and Skits Regulations 2024,” has been forwarded to the Federal Ministry of Justice for Gazette.
The sensitization program aimed to educate stakeholders on the dangers of smoking depictions in Nigerian movies. Husseini emphasized that, besides health risks, glamorizing smoking in films negatively influences teens and young adults, who are the largest segment of the Nigerian movie audience.
He outlined the board’s plans for extensive enlightenment programs in secondary schools, tertiary institutions, local communities, faith groups, and other institutions.
“As you all know, the film industry occupies a central position in the entertainment and creative sector, and it is imperative that we continue to place the highest premium on the progress of the film industry.
“The NFVCB supports smoke-free movies and supports smoke-free Nollywood, and we therefore seek your collaboration to develop creative content that discourages smoking and promotes positive health messages.
“After series of engagements, the NFVCB in collaboration with the CAPPA decided to do a ‘subsidiary regulations’ to cater for smoking in movies since this aspect was not expressly spelt out in the extant Law.
“The NFVCB is well prepared to take leadership in this regard and has planned and began implementing innovative ways to achieve its mandate,” he said
NAN reports that it is the duty of the Board to register all films and videos outlets across the country, and to keep a register of such registered outlets among other functions.