Nollywood Films Face Restrictions on Money Rituals, Smoking, and Crime Scenes
Shaibu Husseini, the executive director of the National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB), says the federal government has banned smoking, money rituals, and the promotion of crimes in Nigerian movies (Nollywood).
According to NAN, Husseini announced the ban at a national stakeholders’ engagement on smoke-free Nollywood in Enugu on Wednesday.
The executive director of NFVCB decried the dangers of smoking to health and how such portrayals in movies could negatively influence the younger generation.
Husseini said the regulation to ban smoking, ritual killings, and glamourising other crimes has been approved by Hannatu Musawa, the minister of arts, culture and the creative economy.
“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,” he said.
“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.
“In spite the obvious fact that our culture and heritage are part of our existence, we tend to pay less than optimal attention to the movies that are produced.
“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.”
