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On Wednesday, May 22, 2024, a National Stakeholders Engagement on Smoke-Free Nollywood was held in Enugu, where reports on a ban on smoking and ritual scenes in movies by the Federal Government through the Nigeria Film And Video Censor Board (NFVCB) were made public.
Hours after, the board’s Director General, Dr Shaibu Husseini, clarified that his statement at the conference organised by the NFVCB and Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA) was misconstrued as there is currently no ban in place.
Husseini disclosed in a statement across his social media platforms that he mentioned instead that there is the ‘existence of a regulation (NFVCB Regulations 2024) that is in line with global best practices that prohibit the promotion and glamourisation of money ritual, ritual killing, tobacco, tobacco product, nicotine produces in movies, musical videos and skits.’
For the commission, as opposed to the glamourisation of these acts, they will be regulating the unnecessary depiction and promotion of these acts in movies, music videos and skits, and will enforce a health warning for necessary scenes.
“The regulation demands the display of a health warning for necessary smoking scenes that are required for historical accuracy, or educational purposes, and to depict a negative lifestyle in movies, music videos and skits. The required health warning shall be displayed at the commencement of the work and at the end,” he added.
Husseini further assured creatives in the entertainment industry that as a board, the commission will not implement any policy that will muzzle creativity but reiterates that any movie, skit or music video that showcases any of these acts ‘that is necessary to the realisation of a narrative’ will be appropriately rated 18.
The post ‘I Did Not Announce A Ban On Smoking And Ritual Scenes In Movies’ – NFVCB DG, Shaibu Husseini Clarifies appeared first on Nigerian Entertainment Today.
