Dr. Shaibu Husseini, Executive Director/CEO of the National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB), announced that the Federal Government has approved the prohibition of money rituals and the glamorization of vices in Nigerian films. Husseini disclosed this at a National Stakeholders Engagement on Smoke-Free Nollywood held in Enugu on Wednesday, organized by the NFVCB and Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA).
Movie producers, directors, actors from various parts of the country, and leaders of various guilds and associations in the Nigerian film industry attended the event. Husseini emphasized the need for bold and ambitious actions from parents, guardians, and stakeholders to address industry challenges.
“When my predecessor approached the former Minister of Information, Alhaji Lai Muhammed, about the need for subsidiary legislation to curtail the display of smoking in Nigerian movies, he also saw the need to include money rituals,” Husseini said. The regulations now include ritual killings and the glamorization of other crimes to further sanitize the film industry.
Husseini announced that the Minister of Arts, Culture, and the Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa, has approved the regulations pursuant to section 65 of the NFVCB Act 2004. The regulations, titled “Prohibition of Money Ritual, Ritual Killing, Tobacco, Tobacco Products, Nicotine Product Promotion and Glamorisation display in Movies, Musical Videos and Skits” Regulations 2024,” have been forwarded to the Federal Ministry of Justice for gazetting.
The sensitization program aimed to educate stakeholders on the dangers of smoking in Nigerian movies. Husseini highlighted that, besides health implications, glamorizing smoking in films negatively influences teens and young adults, who make up the largest segment of Nigerian movie viewers. The board plans to undertake detailed enlightenment programs in secondary schools, tertiary institutions, local communities, faith groups, and other institutions.
“The film industry occupies a central position in the entertainment and creative sector, and it is imperative that we continue to prioritize its progress,” Husseini stated. “The NFVCB supports smoke-free movies and Nollywood and seeks collaboration to develop creative content that discourages smoking and promotes positive health messages.”
After a series of engagements, the NFVCB, in collaboration with CAPPA, decided to implement “subsidiary regulations” to address smoking in movies, as this aspect was not explicitly covered in the extant law. Husseini affirmed that the NFVCB is prepared to take leadership in this regard and has begun implementing innovative ways to achieve its mandate.