The Federal Government has approved the prohibition of money rituals and the glamorisation of vices in Nigerian films.
This was disclosed by the Executive Director and CEO of the National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB), Shaibu Husseini, during a National Stakeholders Engagement on Smoke-Free Nollywood held in Enugu on Wednesday.
The event, organised by the NFVCB in collaboration with Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA), brought together movie producers, directors, actors, and leaders of various guilds and associations from across the country.
Husseini highlighted the urgent need for bold actions to address the industry’s issues, stating, “Today, we are facing an industry emergency requiring bold and ambitious actions from all parents, guardians, and stakeholders.”
He revealed that his predecessor had approached the former Minister of Information, Alhaji Lai Muhammed, to propose a subsidiary legislation to curb the display of smoking in Nigerian movies.
This proposal was expanded to include money rituals, ritual killings, and the glamorisation of other crimes to further sanitise the film industry.
“I am delighted to announce 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,” Husseini stated.
“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.”
The approved regulation has been forwarded to the Federal Ministry of Justice for gazetting.
The NFVCB’s initiative aims to educate stakeholders on the dangers of glamorising smoking in films, which Husseini noted poses significant health risks and negative influences on teens and young adults, the largest segment of Nigerian movie viewers.
“Besides the health implications, glamorising smoking in films poses a negative influence on teens and young adults,” he said.
To further this cause, the NFVCB plans to undertake extensive enlightenment programmes in secondary schools, tertiary institutions, local communities, faith groups, and other institutions.
Husseini emphasized the board’s commitment to promoting positive health messages and creative content that discourages smoking.
“As you all know, the film industry occupies a central position in the entertainment and creative sector, and we must continue to place the highest premium on the progress of the film industry,” he said.
“The NFVCB supports smoke-free movies and smoke-free Nollywood, and we seek your collaboration to develop creative content that discourages smoking and promotes positive health messages.”
After multiple engagements, the NFVCB, in collaboration with CAPPA, decided to implement subsidiary regulations to address smoking in movies, which was not explicitly 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 added.
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 registered outlets, among other functions.
