Dr. Shaibu Husseini, the Executive Director/CEO of the National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB), announced that the Federal Government has approved the prohibition of money rituals and the glamorization of vices in Nigerian films.
He made this declaration during a National Stakeholders Engagement on Smoke-Free Nollywood held in Enugu, which was organized by the NFVCB and Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA).
The event saw the participation of movie producers, directors, actors, and leaders of various guilds and associations in the Nigerian film industry.
Husseini emphasized the urgency of addressing industry challenges, highlighting the need for bold actions from parents, guardians, and stakeholders.
He explained that the regulation to curtail the display of smoking in Nigerian movies was initially proposed by his predecessor and was later expanded to include money rituals and other crimes.
The Minister of Arts, Culture, and the Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa, approved the regulation pursuant to section 65 of the NFVCB Act 2004, which prohibits money rituals, ritual killing, tobacco promotion, and glamorization of crimes in movies, musical videos, and skits.
The NFVCB plans to conduct extensive sensitization programs to educate stakeholders about the dangers of depicting smoking in Nigerian movies.
Husseini highlighted the negative influence of glamorizing smoking on teenagers and young adults, who form the largest segment of Nigerian movie viewers.
The board intends to carry out enlightenment campaigns in schools, communities, faith groups, and other institutions to promote positive health messages and discourage smoking in creative content.
Acknowledging the central role of the film industry in the entertainment sector, Husseini stressed the importance of collaborating to develop creative content that discourages smoking and promotes positive health messages.
The NFVCB, in collaboration with CAPPA, decided to create subsidiary regulations to address smoking in movies, as it was not explicitly covered in the existing law.
The board is committed to leading in this regard and has begun implementing innovative strategies to fulfill its mandate of regulating and promoting smoke-free movies in Nigeria.
