By Felix Kuyinu
The Executive Director of National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB), Shaibu Husseini, has said that the call to ban money ritual, smoking scenes in Nollywood movies and musical videos has been approved by the Federal Government.
Husseini said that Federal Government has also ruled over other glamourizing vices in the entertainment industry owing to it’s negative impact in the society.
The board’s CEO disclosed this while speaking at a National Stakeholders Engagement on Smoke-Free Nollywood held in Enugu on Wednesday.
The NFVCB boss said the country is facing an industry emergency requiring 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,” said Husseini.
“Others included in the regulation are ritual killings and glamourizing other crimes in order to further sanitize 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 Glamourization display in Movies, Musical Videos and Skits.
“We have also forwarded the approved copy to the Federal Ministry of Justice for Gazette’’ he said
According to Husseini, besides the health implications, glamourizing smoking in films poses a negative influence on teens and young adults who constitute the largest segment of Nigeria movie viewers. He said that the board was set to undertake detailed enlightenment programmes in secondary schools, tertiary institutions, local communities, faith groups and other institutions.
