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Tag: NFVCB

  • Nollywood: NFVCB reveals number of films classified in 2024

    Nollywood: NFVCB reveals number of films classified in 2024

    The National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB) said it classified 1,088 films produced by the Nigerian film industry in 2024.

    This NFVCB disclosed this on its website on Wednesday.

    According to the board, during the period under review, 124 films were classified in January, 121 films in February, 56 in March, 71 in April, and 109 in May.

    55 films were classified in June, 95 in July, 135 in August, 82 in September, 137 in October, 59 in November and 44 in December.

    NFVCB is a Federal Government agency that regulates the films and video industry in Nigeria. The board is empowered by law to classify all films and videos, whether imported or produced locally.

    It is also the duty of the board to register all films and videos outlet across the country and to keep a register of such outlets among other functions.

  • We didn’t approve ‘hijab-brandishing’ movies – Board

    We didn’t approve ‘hijab-brandishing’ movies – Board

    The National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB) said it did not receive, classify nor approve release of the controversial hijiab-brandishing movie “Three Working Days.”

    The board made its position known in a statement shared on its official Instagram page on Friday.

    According to the statement, NFVCB is committed  to its statutory mandate and will not classify nor allow  films and video works that abuse, denigrate or undermine religious, cultural and ethic sensibilities.

    “NFVCB have received complaints about an upcoming Nigerian movie that associated the Hijab, an outfit attribute to Muslim women that symbolises respect, modesty and religious devotion, with negative moral vices.

    “Our check revealed that the movie has not been released and it has not been submitted to the NFVCB for classification as required by the law and our mandate.

    “However, we have been able to reach the producers of the film and have taken steps to address the concerns raised with the producers.

    “We restate that as a classification agency, the NFVCB will not overlook any film or video works, including dramatised short contents (skits) that abuse, denigrate or undermine religious, cultural and ethic sensibilities.

    “We commit to contributing to the positive transformation of the Nigerian society through classification of films and video works.

    “We fulfill our mandate whilst balancing the need to preserve freedom of expression within the law and limit social, cultural and religious harm caused by films,” he said.

    Recall Nollywood actress Nancy Isime recently shared pictures of a bank heist scene from the movie dressed in Muslim attire on Instagram  with a caption “Life Lately.”

    In the behind-the-scene photos, she donned a niqab, a veil worn by some Muslim women in public, covering the face, apart from the eyes, wielding guns in what seems to be a bank robbery scene.

    The movie’s poster, also revealed in her post, depicts women in hijabs and face veils brandishing guns during a bank heist, sparking widespread outrage among the Muslim community across Nigeria.

    In a swift reaction, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), called for an immediate ban on the film.

    Ishaq Akintola, the executive director of MURIC, issued a press statement on Thursday, urging the NFVCB to take swift action against the film.

  • Niqab: NFVCB takes action on Nancy Isime’s new movie

    Niqab: NFVCB takes action on Nancy Isime’s new movie

    The National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB) has reached out to the producers of Blood Brothers over the use of the niqab in a robbery scene in the movie.

    Recall, the scene sparked an outrage among Muslims after the popular actress Nancy Isime shared a photo of it on Instagram on Monday.

    Amongst the cast in the movie include movie stars such as Nancy, Femi Adebayo, Deyemi Okanlawon.

    The NFVCB in a statement by its director-general Shaibu Husseini on Thursday while addressing calls for the movie to be banned, said that the film had not been released yet.

    Husseini added that it made contact with the producers to address the contentious issue.

    The statement said, “The National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB), the statutory regulatory agency for film and video works as well as exhibition and distribution in Nigeria, have received complaints about an upcoming Nigerian movie that associated the Hijab, an outfit attributed to Muslim women that symbolizes respect, modesty and religious devotion, with negative moral vices.

    “Our check revealed that the movie has not been released, and it has not been submitted to the NFVCB for classification as required by law and our mandate.

    “However, we have been able to reach the producers of the film and have taken steps to address the concerns raised with the producers.

    “We restate that as a classification agency, the NFVCB will not overlook any film or video works, including dramatized short contents (skits) that abuse, denigrate, or undermine religious, cultural and ethnic sensibilities.

    “We commit to contributing to the positive transformation of the Nigerian society through classification of films and video works whilst balancing the need to preserve freedom of expression within the law, and limit social, cultural and religious harm caused by films.”

  • Censors board, a low hanging fruit most troubling – By Okoh Aihe

    Censors board, a low hanging fruit most troubling – By Okoh Aihe

    I have a friend with an acerbic tongue and a caustic pen that cuts straight to the bone. Although much more reputed as a sports journalist, his cosmopolitan knowledge about just everything around him can be humbling. His writings can make anybody feel uncomfortable, especially if you belong to the band of those who stand truth in the head and try to paint it as alternate reality.

    Nearly two decades ago, my friend gave me a stunning education about happenings in the civil service. He challenged me to name some government agencies and parastatals for which I found my knowledge shamefully deficit. He told me there were over 200 of these bodies, some of them created not really to do anything but just to enjoy some budgets and make some connected individuals happy. As he reeled out the list with a wry smile, I could see that he enjoyed the confusion writ large on my face.

    This was years before the Oronsaye Report, which recommended that the government weed down its burden of agencies and parastatals from 263 to 161, would come into the open in 2012. Although some governments since then have been coy about the Report, with the Buhari administration actually walking the opposite direction and nearly deracinating it. However, the Federal Executive Council which sat on February 26, 2024, has approved total and full implementation of the Report.

    I am in full support of the implementation of the Report because I can testify that there are so many  people in government who are not doing anything at all or with knowledge too inadequate or outdated to contribute meaningfully to the running of an effective civil service.

    In spite of my position, I was still a little nonplussed and distressed when an industry source, in response to my article of last week, titled: For Nollywood, ascendancy fuelled by Providus, furnished me with the information of the 3-week ultimatum given to the Minister of Arts, Culture and Digital Economy, to wind down the operations of the Nigerian Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB).

    Part of the June 21, 2024, memo sent by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, to the Minister, reads as follows: “Accordingly, the Ministry of Arts, Culture & Creative Economy is hereby mandated to initiate all necessary administrative/ financial processes and procedures that will lead to the winding down of Nigerian Film and Video Censors Board and subsequent scrapping for it to function as a Department in the Ministry within three weeks of the receipt of this communication. The scrapping feedback should be made to the undersigned within the first 30 days of being a Department under Federal Ministry of Arts, Culture and Creative Economy.”

    This should be good news to me. But it is not. I was too enthused last week about the intervention of Providus in Nollywood with a N5bn Fund to even accommodate this kind of development.

    Like the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) to the broadcast industry and the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to the telecommunications industry, the NFVCB is the regulator of the creative industry and it strains credulity that the agency is becoming a department in the Ministry.

    NFVCB draws its regulatory power from Act No. 85 of 1993 which states as follows: To licence a person to exhibit films and video works; to classify films and video work; to regulate and prescribe safety precautions to be observed in licensed premises; to regulate and control cinematographic exhibitions; and to regulate the import of foreign movies and export of Nigerian movies. The foregoing are just a few of the functions.

    Here is my plank of argument. For most of the governments that I know, the Tinubu administration has been most bullish and even articulate in canvassing the fortunes of Nollywood. The government created a new ministry to give more attention to the industry and the creators’ economy generally, and has even attracted a bank, Providus, to give loans in very liberal terms. Last week I expressed the optimism that more of such interventions should be expected and this should stimulate growth in the industry.

    I was of the opinion that the government wants to make the entertainment industry bigger and more attractive to the practitioners and investors since a cardinal function of government is to enable a good environment for businesses. Nollywood occupies a prime place  in the industry and was already expressing growth characteristics with operators reacting excitedly to what is happening in their industry. Under this circumstance, the regulator has a substantial role to play in trimming the excesses of the industry while priming it up to attract investors. With all their capacity to entertain  and excite, are the inherent bohemian proclivities of industry practitioners that need to be properly managed by those trained and psychologically disposed to do so. I doubt if the ministry can manage the creative industry.

    Let me establish my fears. As far back as I can remember, no ministry has been able to manage its relationship with the regulator. Two examples will suffice. Both the NBC and the NCC were created in 1992 for the broadcast and telecommunications industries, respectively. Over the years, the parent ministries have put them under immense pressure as they fought to take over their regulatory responsibilities. Each new minister to either of the ministries would always get a briefing of how disobedient and dishonest the regulator is and how officials would embark on frivolous travels in the name of regulation. Besides, they have money to play with and they are very reckless in doing so.

    For a long period, the laws protected the two agencies. But under the Buhari administration, the ministers of the two ministries simply jettisoned the laws and took over regulatory responsibilities from the agencies. It was a clear case of regulatory capture and the concerned agencies and their industries are still struggling to recover from the damage caused by politics and hubris exhibited by politicians.

    The case of NFVCB is beyond capture, it is total swallow sanctioned by the government based on information available to top government functionaries.

    But let me say this. The Censors Board remains central to the growth of Nollywood. The agency carries out responsibilities beyond regulation which throw a lot of beautiful light on the nation. I will give instances. Around 2008, the Board organised a Nollywood forum on the sidelines of the Los Angeles Film Festival. It was a major hit, well attended by industry personalities across the global spectrum.

    The Board has regularly hosted a stand at the Toronto Film Festival in Canada to connect Nigerian producers, exhibitors and distributors with international partners. So, it was a double slam for the agency when Genevieve Nnaji’s Lion Heart and Mo Abudu’s Death and the King’s Horseman were featured at the festival. In addition, it has worked closely with industry heavyweights to feature Nigerian programmes at the Cannes Film Festival in France and even at FESPACO in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.

    The Censors Board has grown with time, getting more interesting like old wine which tastes better with age. This writer is aware that the British Board of Film Classification, Kenya Classification Board and the South African Classification have requested a study tour of Nigeria to understudy the activities of the Board, while nations like Ghana, Malawi and Uganda are setting operations in the similitude of the Nigerian Film and Video Censors Board.

    For me, it is like walking backwards when the agency is seen as a low hanging fruit in the government scheme of events, and simply plucked out of existence.

    I seriously believe that the Oronsaye Report should be implemented post-haste. But I also realise that the Report has been out there since 2012, within which period so much has happened in the technology space and in Nollywood in particular. I am persuaded to think that implementing the Report in its original form may be akin to doing a lazy man’s job. Even a review will have to be critical and devoid of emotions and a blind rush towards contemplated answers.

    I don’t see the Censors Department (I hate to contemplate this) functioning well from the ministry. There will be frustrations for those whose creativity has put Nigeria in the eyes of the world, very positively. Nollywood will be the loser.

  • NFVCB speaks on plan to arrest skit makers releasing unapproved content

    NFVCB speaks on plan to arrest skit makers releasing unapproved content

    The National Film Video and Censors Board (NFVCB) has dismissed reports that it will arrest skit makers releasing content online without approval.

    An official statement released on Saturday by the board’s executive director, Shaibu Husseini, unequivocally refuted the reports as false.

    The NFVCB said its last public statement was a warning to filmmakers promoting same-sex relationships and pornographic content.

    The statement, “Our attention has been drawn to this and other misleading headlines, making the rounds

    “We want to categorically state that at no time and no where did we issue such a statement.

    “Our last public statement was targeted at filmmakers and content creators who were producing, promoting, and distributing unlawful content, including same-sex themed contents prohibited by law.

    “We wish to further assure that the NFVCB will continue to engage with all stakeholders as we transmute from censorship to CLASSIFICATION (Rating). Kindly disregard the misleading headlines.”

  • NFVCB issues strong warning against same-sex, pornographic films

    NFVCB issues strong warning against same-sex, pornographic films

    The National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB) have warned movie producers to desist from promoting and producing films that support same-sex relationships and pornography that contravene the Same-Sex Marriage Prohibition Act and the NFVCB Act.

    NFVCB’s warning comes on the heels of reported activities by some filmmakers and content creators who have been defying the law by the production, promotion, distribution and streaming of prohibited and unapproved content, especially same-sex content on social media and other online platforms.

    The spokesperson of the board, Ogbonna Onwumere in a statement recently issued, said it regretted that despite its recent sustained engagements with filmmakers and the leadership of guilds and associations in the motion picture industry for a safer and healthy screen, there are still filmmakers who indulge in producing obscene and unlawful content.

    The board, whose executive director is Shaibu Husseini, said it is working with relevant security agencies to track the filmmakers and production companies involved. Onwumere also added that he would stop at nothing to ensure that those already identified face the full wrath of the law.

    “Although the board assures that it will continue to engage filmmakers and content creators on the need for a safer and healthier screen, it reminds stakeholders, including conventional and digital platform owners that it is illegal to distribute any film or video content, including skits and musical videos, on any platform without classification from the National Film and Video Censors Board,” the statement said.

  • Nollywood: Husseini clarifies ban on smoking scenes in movies

    Nollywood: Husseini clarifies ban on smoking scenes in movies

    Executive Director of National Films and Videos Censors Board (NFVCA), Shaibu Husseini has made clarifications on the recent ban on smoking scenes in Nigerian movies.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Husseini made the clarifications on Friday in a live TV program on TVC known as Your view.

    Addressing the claims that the board banned smoking, Executive Director of NFVCB, said that there was no time he made a statement banning smoking in movies.

    “There was no time I mentioned anything about banning smoking scenes, I never pronounced anything about banning of smoking scenes.

    “But of course. you know that we are in a era where everyone is a journo and you just pick up a story, you have not even read the story and then you fly a headline.

    “I even asked a lot of people, after reading the headline, did you read the story and found any where I was quoted to have banned smoking scenes  and ritual scenes in our movies?

    “The implication of that headline is that, in Nigeria, there will be no longer movie that has smoking scenes. How is that even possible?” Husseini queried.

    According to him, the content regulators only ensured that there is no promotion and glamorisation of tobacco, nicotines and money ritual in Nollywood films.

    He continued, saying: “You see, Nigeria has passed a tobacco act, National Tobacco Control Act 2019. So, from 2019 there have been so many effort by different institutions to implement provisions of the act.

    “Agencies like Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA)  implemented the policy on aviation, where you don’t smoke in the plane. Formerly, people smoke inside the plane, but now it is an offense to smoke inside a plane. It is part of the implementation.

    “Our responsibility as content regulators is to ensure that there is no promotion and glamorisation of tobacco, nicotines and money ritual in our films.

    “We did not say that if there are necessary smoking scenes, required for historical or educational purposes or to correct negative lifestyle, it should not be there. By all means please have it in the film.

    “But what the new regulation says, is that, you must give a warning from the beginning of the film, that “the actors and film maker do not intend to glamorise smoking in the film, and please note that smoking is injurious to health.”

    Husseini stressed that film makers must find creative way to put out the warning, this including a bold liner underneath a smoking scene, which must outline that ‘smokers are liable to die young’.

    “They need to let people know that there is a warning attached to it, that is what the regulation talks about,” he added.

    He further reiterated that he did not ban smoking scenes in Nollywood, adding that it is not possible to do such thing.

    As for banning of money ritual scene, Husseini said, “they have had cases where young people came to us and said, it is from what they saw from movies that we emulated”.

    He added that film makers who make such a movie must indicate in the end of the film that ”no head nor body was cut or multilated during the making of the film’.

  • Shaibu Husseini denies ban on smoking and ritual scenes in movies 

    Shaibu Husseini denies ban on smoking and ritual scenes in movies 

    Executive director of the National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB) Shaibu Husseini has denied reports that the Federal Government has placed a ban on money rituals and smoking in Nigerian films and skits.

    Clarifying the report, Husseini while speaking at a national stakeholders engagement on smoke-free Nollywood in Enugu on Wednesday, debunked the viral report.

    The event was organised by the NFVCB and 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 statement on Thursday released on social media, Husseini said in part:

    “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.”

    Husseini assured that the NFVCB would not implement any policy that will muzzle creativity. He added:

    “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.”

    My attention has been drawn to a couple of trending headlines that suggested that the FG, through the @NFVCB, has “banned smoking and ritual scenes in Movies.” Interestingly, there is no part of the report following the headline where I was quoted to have announced the ban.

     

  • Nollywood produces 274 films in Q1 2024 – Official

    Nollywood produces 274 films in Q1 2024 – Official

    The National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB) says it received and classified 274 movies produced by the Nigerian film industry in the first quarter of the year.

    Dr Shaibu Husseini, Executive Director/CEO of the board made this known in a statement on Monday in Abuja.

    The NFVCB boss said the figure was provided by the Department of Film Censorship and Classification of the board in its first quarter report, capturing all genres of films approved by the board.

    The report is for onward submission to the relevant Federal Government agency as input for the compilation of the nation’s Gross Domestic Product for the first quarter ( Q1 2024).

    As indicated in the report, films in English Language constitute the chunk of the films produced during the period under review.

    250 films out of the numbers verified and approved   were produced in English, while others include films in Yoruba, gbo,Hausa and Hindi languages.

    According to the report, classification by viewing audience indicates that films classified ‘18’, meant for matured audience, constitute over 50 percent of the total films produced.

    The report further shown that films classified as ‘15’, ‘!2’ and those that requires Parental Guidance(PG),  as well as those under  ‘General  viewing trailed behind accordingly.

    NFVCB is a Federal Government agency that regulates the films and video industry in Nigeria.

    The board is empowered by law to classify all films and videos, whether imported or produced locally.

    It is also the duty of the board to register all films and videos outlet across the country and to keep a register of such outlets among other functions.

     

  • Creative industry must embrace insurance against life emergencies —- NFVCB

    Creative industry must embrace insurance against life emergencies —- NFVCB

    Alhaji Adedayo Thomas, the Executive Director/Chief Executive Officer, National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB), has advised practitioners in the creative industry to invest in insurance against future life emergencies.

    Thomas gave the advice at the ongoing third Nigeria Digital Content Regulation Conference (NDCRC) in Lagos.

    The NFVCB’s boss, who decried situations where members turned beggars, especially when medically challenged, said that practitioners must be insured to cater for unforeseen emergencies.

    “We should not at anytime ignore insurance. It is for all of us in creative industry.

    “I have never read where ICAN, NMA, NBA put in the newspapers that they were looking for funds to take care of one of them.

    “We are not beggars; we are contributing to the economy, we must be wise within ourselves.

    “We have been very careless with ourselves, we have to be frank. Part of the production cost should include insurance for all, even for a caterer who works within the production.

    “We, in the film industry form the majority employers of labour anywhere in the world, so there are lot of hazards that can happen within and outside film production.

    “We have to be including insurance package in the production cost.

    “It safeguards us so that we won’t be clapping our hands and begging all around, when our members have issues. We should be able to protect ourselves,” he said.

    He advised stakeholders to self regulate their activities in line with the nation’s values and laws.

    “Do we actually need the government to regulate our day-to-day life? No.

    “But, how can we say no if we have not morally developed ourselves to understand the basis of life. Moral culture needs to be rebuilt.

    “The children need to be protected. We need within ourselves to understand the fact that to have self regulation, we need to broaden the scope of what we chunk out.

    “Self regulation will stimulate more investment opportunities.

    “Self regulation is to empower the association to look into a film and give it classification.

    “We must, in the first instance, discipline ourselves as individuals and an association so that we will know whether what we are classifying is acceptable or not.

    “We can manage our lives and businesses without strict regulations by the government.” he said.

    He added that self regulation had been adopted in South Africa and would soon be accepted in Kenya.

    Thomas recalled that the board decided to bring key industry players, policy makers and entrepreneurs together in 2021 to chart a common front toward repositioning Nigeria’s highly esteemed film industry.

    He said that the first edition focused on streaming services, and the need to bring balance and equity to the ecosystem, especially with the disruption of the digital era.

    He revealed that the purpose was to create a platform for robust dialogue between the government, through the regulator and the Video-on-Demand platform, led by the Over-The-Top Streamers.

    The NFVCB CEO added that in the second  edition in 2022, the board expanded the scope of the conversation beyond censorship to, among others, basically dissect and evaluate conversations and agreements reached at the previous edition.

    According to him, the objective of the third edition of the NDCRC is to primarily discuss the growth of the film industry and evaluate concerns around global standards for regulation of digital contents in the face of advances in the development of cutting-edge technologies.

    “Our goal is to ensure orderliness, national security and promote global peace without undermining inherent investment opportunities and enhancement of economic rewards for all practitioners and stakeholders.

    “In the light of the global socio-economic and political dynamics and the influence of roles played by digital operators, we anticipate that the decision and discussions in this conference will guide us in crafting policies that nurture creativity and collaboration without imposing undue restrictions.”

    According to him, dialogue open avenue for potential partnership between film makers and streamers, for the purposes of enriching the possibilities within the industry as an economic sector.

    He said that the regulatory dialogue was to help the streamers to thrive while obliging to protect Nigerian audience from harmful or offensive content or materials.

    Emphasising the need for practitioners to belong to professional association, Thomas said streamers must not deal with anyone who was not a member of a professional association no matter how talented.

    “We are committed to safeguarding the inherent economic values within the entertainment and creative industry,” he said.

    He noted that like in other professions, there were bad eggs within the creative industry, which he said the security agents also needed to deal with.

    The Chief Host and Minister of Arts ,Culture and the Creative Economy, Hajia Hannatu Musawa, who expressed delight in the event, assured stakeholders of President Bola Tinubu’s focus in promoting an attractive investment and partnership in and to Nigeria.

    Musawa, who was represented by Mr Baba Agba, the Senior Special Assistant on Films, Videos and Musicals, said that the president was keen on creating the right framework that encouraged ease of doing business to achieve nation ‘s aspirations for this sector.

    “Nigeria will continue to provide the enabling environment for digital businesses to thrive,” she said.

    Also speaking, Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Culture and Tourism, Mr Kareem Abisodun, who described the conference as apt, said that all discussions had encapsulated the realities of all opportunities, challenges and the way forward for creative digital contents.

    According to Abisodun, Nollywood produces an average of 1,500 films per year, which makes Nigeria the largest film producing country in Africa and globally the second.

    He highlighted the magnitude of social and economic impacts Nigerian creative industry portends in terms of contribution to the Gross Domestic Product) and removal of unemployed youth from our streets, if proper regulation framework were in place.

    The event brought together various Nollywood veterans and other stakeholders in the industry.