LAGOS, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)- The Executive Director of the National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB), Shaibu Husseini says the federal government has ordered the ban of smoking, money rituals and promotion of crimes in movies.
Speaking at the National Stakeholders’ Engagement on Smoke-Free Nollywood in Enugu on Wednesday, Husseini cited the need for responsible content creation, citing the industry’s significant influence on the entertainment and creative sectors.
He applauded Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA) for organising the event as part of its corporate social responsibility initiative in Nigeria’s creative industry.
Husseini further cited the dangers of smoking to health and how such portrayals in movies could negatively influence the younger generation.
He 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.
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“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.”
On his part, the Executive Director of CAPPA, Akinbode Oluwafemi called for a smoke-free Nollywood, and emphasized the importance of promoting a healthy lifestyle for Nigerian children.
He said, “With the power to tell the Nigerian story, shape our future, and build a genuinely productive society, Nollywood has a role to play in ensuring that the growing concerns of non-communicable diseases in Nigeria are addressed. There is a need to reverse the role movies and music videos play in painting smoking and tobacco use as a cool way of life.
“With more than 5 million young Nigerians aged 15 years addicted to smoking cigarettes, our job, not just as movie practitioners and industry experts but also as parents, is to rise to the occasion and act right to protect our children and prepare for a smoke-free future.
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“We are at a point where we must stop the glamorisation of smoking and, instead, promote healthy lifestyles.”
The engagement brought together movie producers, directors, actors, and leaders of various guilds and associations from across the Nigerian film industry.