The Federal Government has officially banned the portrayal of money rituals and the glamorization of vices in the nation’s films.
The executive director of the National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB), Shaibu Husseini, disclosed this during a National Stakeholders Engagement on Smoke-Free Nollywood in Enugu on Wednesday. The event was attended by movie producers, directors, actors, and leaders of various guilds and associations in the Nigerian film industry.
Addressing the attendees, Husseini highlighted the pressing need for stringent actions in light of the negative influences perpetuated by certain film portrayals.
Husseini detailed the journey of the regulatory measures, which began when his predecessor approached the former Minister of Information, Alhaji Lai Muhammed, to advocate for regulations curtailing the depiction of smoking in Nigerian movies.
This proposal expanded to include money rituals and other crimes. “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,” Husseini announced.
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.
Husseini emphasized the importance of educating stakeholders about the dangers inherent in glamorizing smoking in films. He pointed out that besides the health risks, such portrayals negatively influence teenagers and young adults, who are the primary audience for Nigerian movies.
To combat these issues, the NFVCB plans to implement detailed enlightenment programs across secondary schools, tertiary institutions, local communities, faith groups, and other institutions.
The NFVCB, in collaboration with CAPPA, has also developed subsidiary regulations to address smoking in movies, a concern not explicitly covered in the current law.
The Board is committed to leading initiatives that promote smoke-free and vice-free content in Nollywood, ensuring the industry promotes positive health messages.
According to the NFVCB, part of its mandate is to register all film and video outlets across the country and maintain a comprehensive register of these outlets, among other functions.
