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From Magnus Eze, Enugu
The Federal Government is set to enforce the prohibition of money rituals, ritual killings, smoking and glamourising of vices in Nigerian films.
Executive Director/CEO, National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB), Dr Shaibu Husseini, made the disclosure at a National Stakeholders’ Engagement on Smoke-Free Nollywood, in Enugu.
Organised by the NFVCB and Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA), the event brought movie producers, directors and actors, drawn from different parts of the country, under one roof. Leaders of various guilds and associations in the Nigerian film industry also participated in the event.
Husseini said Nigeria was 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 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 glamourising other crimes, in order 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 glamourisation 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.
He said the sensitisation programme was to educate stakeholders on the danger inherent in smoking in Nigerian movies. He explained that aside the health implications, glamourising smoking in films poses a negative influence on teens and young adults who constitute the largest segment of Nigerian movie viewers.
He said the board was set to undertake detailed enlightenment programmes in secondary schools, tertiary institutions, local communities, faith groups and other institutions.
Husseini further stated: “As you all know, 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 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.”
