The Executive Director/CEO of the National Film And Video Censors Board (NFVCB), Shaibu Husseini, announced the prohibition of depicting money ritual scenes and glamorizing vices in Nollywood films.
This decision was made during a National Stakeholders Engagement on Smoke-Free Nollywood in Enugu State. The prohibited content includes money rituals, ritual killings, tobacco, tobacco products, nicotine product promotions, and glamorization in movies, music videos, and skits.
Efforts are being made to educate stakeholders on these new regulations to ensure the protection of viewers and other parties, as emphasized during the event organized by NFVCB and Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA).
“When my predecessor approached the former Minister of Information, Alhaji Lai Muhammed 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.
“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 Glamorisation 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.
Husseini mentioned that the sensitization program aimed to educate stakeholders about the risks associated with smoking portrayed in Nigerian movies.
Apart from the health consequences, glamorizing smoking in films can have a detrimental impact on teenagers and young adults, who make up the majority of Nigerian movie audiences.
The board is planning to conduct extensive awareness campaigns in secondary schools, tertiary institutions, local communities, faith groups, and other organizations.
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 supports smoke-free Nollywood, and we therefore seek your collaboration to develop creative content that discourages smoking and promotes positive health messages.
“After series of engagements, the NFVCB in collaboration with the CAPPA decided to do a ‘subsidiary regulations’ to cater for smoking in movies since this aspect was not expressly spelt out in the extant Law.
“The NFVCB is well prepared to take leadership in this regard and has planned and began implementing innovative ways to achieve its mandate,” he said.
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