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New law bans money rituals, smoking scenes in Nollywood films
The National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB) of Nigeria has announced new regulations approved by the Federal Government to prohibit the depiction of money rituals and the glamorization of vices in Nigerian films.
This announcement was made by Dr. Shaibu Husseini, Executive Director/CEO of NFVCB, at a National Stakeholders Engagement on Smoke-Free Nollywood held in Enugu State.
Dr. Husseini stressed the urgency of these regulations, stating, “Today, we are facing an industry emergency requiring bold and ambitious actions from all parents, guardians, and stakeholders.”
The primary goal of these measures is to sanitize the Nigerian film industry by reducing the promotion of harmful behaviors and practices.
The new regulation, titled the “Prohibition of Money Ritual, Ritual Killing, Tobacco, Tobacco Products, Nicotine Product Promotion and Glamorization Display in Movies, Musical Videos and Skits Regulations 2024,” received approval from the Minister of Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa. This approval aligns with section 65 of the NFVCB Act 2004.
Dr. Husseini noted, “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.”
The inclusion of ritual killings and other crimes in the regulation aims to further cleanse Nollywood content to prevent negative influences on viewers.
The engagement event in Enugu brought together film producers, directors, actors, and leaders of various guilds and associations from across Nigeria, highlighting a collective effort to address these issues within the industry.
The regulation not only bans the depiction of money rituals but also extends to prohibiting the display and promotion of tobacco, nicotine products, and other crimes in films, musical videos, and skits.
This initiative builds on the efforts of Dr. Husseini’s predecessor, who recognized the negative impact of such portrayals on society, particularly the youths.