The Executive Director/CEO of the National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB), Dr. Shaibu Husseini, has announced that the Nigerian Government now prohibits Nollywood movies that depict money rituals and glamourise vices.
Husseini disclosed this on Wednesday at a National Stakeholders Engagement on Smoke-Free Nollywood held in Enugu, organised by NFVCB and Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA).
While addressing directors, actors, and leaders of various guilds and associations in Nollywood, Husseini stated that the Nigerian film industry is confronting an emergency that demands significant actions from parents, guardians, and stakeholders.
“When my predecessor approached the former Minister of Information, Alhaji Lai Muhammed on the need to make a subsidiary legislation to curtail the display of smoking in Nigerian movies, he saw the need to include money rituals.
“Others included in the regulation are ritual killings and glamourising other crimes in order to further sanitise 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.
“We have also forwarded the approved copy to the Federal Ministry of Justice for Gazette,” he said.
He said that the sensitisation programme was geared towards educating stakeholders about the ramifications of smoking in Nigerian movies. He asserted that smoking depicted in films detrimentally impacts adolescents and young adults, who form the predominant demographic of Nollywood audiences.
Hussaini added that the NFVCB is poised to raise awareness among secondary schools, tertiary institutions, local communities, faith groups, and other relevant bodies.
“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
The NFVCB registers all film and video outlets across the country.