Executive Director of the National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB), Dr. Shaibu Husseini, has denied reports that he said the Federal Government had approved the prohibition of money rituals and smoking in Nigerian films.
Several news outfits reported yesterday that the ED made the announcement at a national stakeholders’ engagement on smoke-free Nollywood in Enugu.
The event was organised by the NFVCB in collaboration with Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA).
Movie producers, directors and actors drawn from different parts of the country, as well as leaders of various guilds and associations in the Nigerian film industry, were present at the event.
However, in a press statement on Thursday, Husseini said, “I did NOT announce a ban on ‘smoking, or smoking, and ritual scenes in movies’ at the (South-east zone) stakeholders engagement on a healthy screen and the campaign to have a smoke free Nollywood, which held in Enugu in collaboration with @CAPPAfrica. No, I did NOT.
“What I mentioned in a speech that I have shared here is the existence of a regulation (NFVCB Regulations 2024) that in line with global best practices prohibits the PROMOTION and GLAMOURISATION of money ritual, ritual killing, tobacco, tobacco product, nicotine products in movies, musical videos and skits.
“The regulation aims at discouraging the ‘unnecessary’ depiction, promotion, advertisement, or glamourisation of tobacco or nicotine products in movies, musical videos, and skits.
“The regulation demands the display of a health warning for necessary smoking scenes that are required for historical accuracy, or for educational purposes, and to depict a negative lifestyle in movies, musical videos, and skits.
“The required health warning shall be displayed at the commencement of the work and at the end.”
He assured that the NFVCB would not implement any policy that would muzzle creativity, adding, “Any movie, skit, or musical video that displays or depicts tobacco or nicotine products, brands, or use that is necessary to the realisation of a narrative shall be given the appropriate classification (rating) and shall not be shown to persons below the age of 18.”
