The Federal Government has announced a new prohibition on the display of money ritual scenes and the glamorization of vices in Nollywood movies.
This was disclosed by the Executive Director/CEO of the National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB), Shaibu Husseini, during a National Stakeholders Engagement on Smoke-Free Nollywood held in Enugu State.
Husseini revealed that scenes depicting money rituals, ritual killings, and the promotion and glamorization of tobacco, tobacco products, and nicotine products in movies, music videos, and skits have been banned. Efforts are currently underway to educate stakeholders about these new regulations.
Speaking at the event organized by the NFVCB in collaboration with Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA), Husseini emphasized the need for decisive actions to protect viewers and other stakeholders.
“When my predecessor approached the former Minister of Information, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, 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,” Husseini stated. “Others included in the regulation are ritual killings and glamorizing other crimes in order to further sanitize the film industry.”
Husseini announced that the current Minister of Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa, has approved the new regulations pursuant to section 65 of the NFVCB Act 2004. “The minister has approved the Prohibition of Money Ritual, Ritual Killing, Tobacco, Tobacco Products, Nicotine Product Promotion and Glamorization Display in Movies, Musical Videos and Skits Regulations 2024,” he said, adding that the approved regulations have been forwarded to the Federal Ministry of Justice for gazetting.
The sensitization program aims to educate stakeholders about the dangers of smoking displayed in Nigerian movies. Husseini highlighted that besides health implications, glamorizing smoking in films negatively influences teens and young adults, who make up the largest segment of Nigerian movie viewers.
“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 its progress,” he said. “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.”
The NFVCB, in collaboration with CAPPA, has decided to introduce ‘subsidiary regulations‘ to address smoking in movies, a subject not explicitly covered in the current law. Husseini assured that the board is prepared to lead in this regard and has already started implementing innovative strategies to achieve its mandate.
The NFVCB plans to conduct extensive enlightenment programs in secondary schools, tertiary institutions, local communities, faith groups, and other institutions to further promote the new regulations and ensure compliance across the industry.
