NFVCB ED Backtracks on No Nollywood Smoking, Ritual Scenes Claims
“No, I did not say ritual” the NFVCB ED emphasizes that smoking sequences are prohibited in Nollywood.
The National Film and Video Censors Board's (NFVCB) executive director, Shaibu Husseini, has provided clarification on the alleged bans on smoking, money rituals, and the promotion of criminal activity in Nigerian films.
The national stakeholders' engagement on smoke-free Nollywood in Enugu on Wednesday saw the announcement of the federal government's ban, which went viral. The executive director of NFVCB lamented the health risks associated with smoking and the potential harm that such depictions in films could cause to the next generation.
He said: “As you all know, the film industry occupies a central position in the entertainment and creative sector and it is imperative that we continue to place the highest premium on the progress of the film industry.
“The NFVCB supports smoke-free movies and supports smoke-free Nollywood, and we therefore seek your collaboration to develop creative content that discourages smoking and promotes positive health messages.
“In spite the obvious fact that our culture and heritage are part of our existence, we tend to pay less than optimal attention to the movies that are produced.
“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.
“Others included in the regulation are ritual killings and glamourising other crimes in order to further sanitise 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 glamorisation display in movies, musical videos and skits.”
Husseini clarified his remarks, stating that contrary to popular belief, he did not declare a ban on smoking and ritual scenes in films.
He clarified that he had made a statement at the occasion regarding the NFVCB Regulations 2024, which forbid the advertising of tobacco products, money rituals, and ritual slaughter in movies in accordance with international best practices.
He wrote in a series of posts: “Interestingly, there is no part of the report following the headline where I was quoted to have announced the ban.
“I did NOT announce a ban on ‘smoking,' or smoking, and ritual scenes in movies at the (southeast 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.
“Although we will issue an official position and cause the regulation to be published upon gazetting, I want to assure that as a classification board, we will not implement any policy that will muzzle creativity. Any movie, skit, or musical video that displays or depicts.
“Although we will issue an official position and cause the regulation to be published upon gazetting, I want to assure that as a classification board, we will not implement any policy that will muzzle creativity. Any movie, skit, or musical video that displays or depicts.
“Tobacco or nicotine products, brands, or use that is necessary to the realization of a narrative shall be given the appropriate classification (rating) and shall not be shown to persons below the age of 18. So there is no truth in the ‘headlines.”'
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