FG Bans Money Rituals, Smoking Scenes In Nollywood Movies

The Federal Government has banned money rituals, display of smoking and other acts glamorizing crimes in Nigerian movies.

The National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB), Chief Executive Officer Shaibu Husseini said this in Enugu on Wednesday at an event organised by the NFVCB and Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA).

Movie producers, directors, actors from different parts of the country, and leaders of various guilds and associations in the Nigerian film industry were present at the event.

Husseini said: “Today, we are facing an industry emergency requiring bold and ambitious actions from all parents, guardians, and stakeholders.

“When my predecessor approached former Minister of Information, Alhaji Lai Muhammed, on the need to make 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 glamorising other crimes to further sanitise the film industry.

“I’m delighted to announce 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.”

He added: “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 regulations 2024’.

We have also forwarded the approved copy to the Federal Ministry of Justice for Gazette.” Husseini said the sensitisation programme was to educate stakeholders on the danger inherent in smoking in Nigerian movies.