Dr. Shaibu Husseini, Executive Director and CEO of the National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB), announced that the Federal Government of Nigeria has approved new regulations prohibiting the depiction of money rituals, ritual killings, and the glamorization of other crimes in Nigerian films.
This decision aims to further sanitize the film industry and was disclosed during a National Stakeholders Engagement on Smoke-Free Nollywood held in Enugu on Wednesday.
The event, organized by the NFVCB and Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA), gathered movie producers, directors, actors, and leaders from various guilds and associations within the Nigerian film industry.
Husseini highlighted the urgency of addressing these issues, noting, “Today, we are facing an industry emergency requiring bold and ambitious actions from all parents, guardians, and stakeholders.” He referenced efforts initiated by his predecessor, who sought to regulate the portrayal of smoking in films, and expanded these efforts to include money rituals and other crimes.
The Minister of Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa, has approved the new regulations under section 65 of the NFVCB Act 2004. These regulations, titled the “Prohibition of Money Ritual, Ritual Killing, Tobacco, Tobacco Products, Nicotine Product Promotion and Glamorisation display in Movies, Musical Videos and Skits” Regulations 2024, have been forwarded to the Federal Ministry of Justice for gazetting.
The purpose of the sensitization program, Husseini explained, was to educate stakeholders about the dangers associated with the portrayal of smoking in films, emphasizing that glamorizing such behavior can negatively influence teens and young adults, who are the largest segment of Nigerian movie viewers.
Husseini also stated that the NFVCB is set to conduct detailed enlightenment programs in secondary schools, tertiary institutions, local communities, faith groups, and other institutions to further promote positive health messages and discourage smoking.
“The NFVCB supports smoke-free movies and supports smoke-free Nollywood, and we therefore seek your collaboration to develop creative content that discourages smoking and promotes positive health messages,” he said. He also noted that the board has planned and begun implementing innovative ways to achieve its mandate, with the support of CAPPA, through subsidiary regulations tailored to address issues not expressly covered in existing laws.
The NFVCB’s responsibilities include registering all film and video outlets across Nigeria and maintaining a register of these outlets, among other functions.
