In a move to curb social vices, the Federal Government of Nigeria has approved the prohibition of money rituals and the likes in Nigerian films.
The Executive Director and CEO of the National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB), Shaibu Husseini disclosed this at a National Stakeholders Engagement on Smoke-Free Nollywood organized by the NFVCB and Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa held in Enugu on Wednesday.
According to Husseini, Nigeria is facing an industry emergency requiring bold and ambitious actions from all 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 glamorising other crimes 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.
Speaking further, Husseini noted that glamorising smoking in films poses a negative influence on teens and young adults who constitute the largest segment of Nigerian movie viewers.
He said that with the sensitization program, the board was set to undertake detailed enlightenment initiatives 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 we must continue to place the highest premium on the progress of the film industry.
“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 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 begun implementing innovative ways to achieve its mandate,” he said.