Breaking: Federal Government Bans Money Rituals And Glamorization Of Vices In Nigerian Films (Details)

The Federal Government has enacted a ban on the portrayal of money rituals and the glamorization of vices in Nigerian films. This development was announced by Shaibu Husseini, Executive Director and CEO of the National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB), at a National Stakeholders Engagement on Smoke-Free Nollywood held in Enugu on Wednesday….CONTINUE READING

The event, organized by the NFVCB in collaboration with Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA), brought together movie producers, directors, actors, and leaders from various guilds and associations within the Nigerian film industry.

Husseini emphasized the urgent need for decisive actions from parents, guardians, and industry stakeholders to address the prevalent issues. He mentioned that the NFVCB, under his predecessor, had previously approached the former Minister of Information, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, to consider subsidiary legislation aimed at curbing the depiction of smoking in Nigerian movies. This discussion expanded to include the prohibition of money rituals, ritual killings, and the glamorization of other crimes to further cleanse the film industry.

“Today, I am delighted to announce to you that the Minister of Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa, pursuant to section 65 of the NFVCB Act 2004, has approved the regulation. The minister has approved the Prohibition of Money Ritual, Ritual Killing, Tobacco, Tobacco Products, Nicotine Product Promotion and Glamorisation display in Movies, Musical Videos and Skits Regulations 2024,” Husseini stated. He added that the approved regulation has been forwarded to the Federal Ministry of Justice for gazetting.

Husseini highlighted the purpose of the sensitization program, which is to educate stakeholders about the dangers of smoking depicted in Nigerian movies. He pointed out that glamorizing smoking not only has health implications but also negatively influences teens and young adults, who are the largest audience segment for Nigerian films.

The NFVCB is committed to conducting extensive enlightenment programs across secondary schools, tertiary institutions, local communities, faith groups, and other institutions. Husseini underscored the central role of the film industry in the entertainment and creative sector and the need to prioritize its progress.

“The NFVCB supports smoke-free movies and smoke-free Nollywood, and we, therefore, seek your collaboration to develop creative content that discourages smoking and promotes positive health messages. After a series of engagements, the NFVCB, in collaboration with CAPPA, decided to establish ‘subsidiary regulations’ to address smoking in movies since this aspect was not expressly covered in the existing law. The NFVCB is well prepared to take leadership in this regard and has planned and begun implementing innovative ways to achieve its mandate,” Husseini concluded.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the NFVCB is responsible for registering all film and video outlets across the country and maintaining a register of these outlets, among other functions.

Published By: Destiny.Jnr