Dr. Shaibu Husseini, the Executive Director/CEO of the National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB), announced that the Federal Government has banned the depiction of money rituals and the glorification of vices in Nigerian films.
This was revealed at a National Stakeholders Engagement on Smoke-Free Nollywood in Enugu in May 2022. The event was organized by the NFVCB and Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA).
Attendees included movie producers, directors, actors from various regions of the country, and leaders of different guilds and associations within the Nigerian film industry.
Husseini emphasized that the industry is currently facing an emergency that necessitates bold and ambitious actions from parents, guardians, and stakeholders.
“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 stated that the sensitization program aimed to educate stakeholders about the dangers of depicting smoking in Nigerian movies.
