The ban on money rituals and the glorification of vices in Nigerian cinema has been approved by the country’s federal government.
At a National Stakeholders Engagement on Smoke-Free Nollywood held in Enugu State on May 22, the Nigerian National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB) revealed this.
During the stakeholders meeting on Wednesday, Dr. Shaibu Husseini, the Executive Director/CEO of NFVCB, stated that the industry is experiencing an emergency that calls for audacious and ambitious efforts from all parents, guardians, and stakeholders.
“My predecessor saw that money rituals were necessary when he addressed Alhaji Lai Muhammad, the former Minister of Information, about the necessity to create a supplemental law to restrict the presentation of smoking in Nigerian films”, he said.
“Ritual killings and the glamourization of other crimes are among the other things covered by the rule, which aims to further sanitize the film business”, he explained.
“I’m happy to inform you that, in accordance with section 65 of the NFVCB Act of 2004, the rule has been authorized by Hannatu Musawa, Minister of Arts, Culture, and the Creative Economy”.
“The Prohibition of Money Ritual, Ritual Killing, Tobacco, Tobacco Products, Nicotine Product Promotion, and Glamorization display in Movies, Musical Videos, and Skits” Regulations 2024 have been approved by the minister.
He continued, “We have also sent the authorized copy to the Federal Ministry of Justice for Gazette.”
In addition to the health risks, he claims that romanticizing smoking in movies has a detrimental effect on teenagers and young people, who make up the majority of Nigerian moviegoers.
He announced that the board planned to implement comprehensive education initiatives in secondary schools, universities, local communities, religious organizations, and other establishments.
“As you are all aware, the film business plays a pivotal role in the creative and entertainment sectors, and it is essential that we maintain our top priority for the industry’s advancement.
The NFVCB and CAPPA collaborated to create “subsidiary regulations” to address smoking in movies following a number of meetings, as the current law did not specifically address this issue.
“The NFVCB has planned and started implementing creative ways to achieve its mandate, and it is well-prepared to take leadership in this regard,” the speaker stated.
In addition to other responsibilities, NAN says that the Board is responsible for registering all movie theaters and video stores in the nation and maintaining a registry of these establishments.
The NFVCB is in favor of smoke-free films and Nollywood, so we’re looking for your help in creating original content that promotes healthy lifestyle choices and deters smoking.
BY: APPIANIMAA MERCY
