NGO launch smoke-free nollywood campaign, as FG prohibits rituals, smoking in movies

By Samuel Ogunsona

The Federal Government, FG, has announced it would restrict the depiction of ritual killings, money rituals and smoking in Nigerian film industry.

This is coming as
Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA) launch a smoke-free campaign in Nollywood.

The Federal Government’s position was disclosed by the National Film and Video Censors Board, NFVCB, Executive Director, Dr. Shaibu Husseini, in Enugu at a National Stakeholders’ Engagement on the “Smoke-Free Nollywood” campaign.

The event was organised in collaboration with Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA).

Dr. Shaibu who made the announcement said Nigeria is facing what he described as “industry emergency” which requires immediate interventions from the government parents and nollywood stakeholders.

According to him, “Therefore, after a series of engagements, the NFVCB, in collaboration with CAPPA, decided to make Subsidiary Regulations to address smoking in movies since this aspect was not expressly spelt out in the extant Law.

“Today (Tuesday), I am delighted to announce to you that the Honourable Minister of Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy, Barrister Hannatu Musa Musawa, pursuant to Section 65 of the NFVCB Act 2004 has approved the “Prohibition of Money Ritual, Ritual Killing, Tobacco, Tobacco Product, Nicotine Product Promotion, Glamorization, Display in Movies, Musical Videos and Skits” Regulations 2024. We have forwarded the approved copy to the Federal Ministry of Justice for Gazette,” Dr. Shaibu added.

Speaking at the event, Dr. Shaibu expressed concern on certain ploy of Tobacco industry saying the government is ready to fight against it.

He said, “Of recent, we realised that tobacco industries hide under the banner of entertainment to flaunt smoking. The NFVCB is well prepared to take leadership in this regard and has planned and begun implementing innovative ways to achieve its mandate, especially at this crucial time when the National Assembly is insisting that there is “Need to Curb the Rising Spate of Cultism, Trafficking, Consumption of Illicit Drugs and other Substances among Youths in Nigeria”.

“The Board had been urged to undertake detailed enlightenment programs in secondary schools, tertiary institutions, local communities, faith groups and other institutions, as well as impose restrictions on home movies promoting social vices.” Dr. Shaibu stated.

Present at the event is the Executive Director of Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa, CAPPA, Akinbode Oluwafemi, who expresses his widespread public dissatisfaction with Tobacco addiction among young individuals of age 15 and above.

He said about 75% of the deaths has taken place in developing countries, Nigeria alone has recorded up to five million young individuals addicted to cigarette smoking.

According to the ED, “Tobacco is a killer. Tobacco currently kills over 80 million people globally with 75 percent of that coming from developing countries. Nigeria currently faces a double burden of Non-Communicable Diseases, which is responsible for about 25 per cent of all the deaths in our country.

“With more than five million young Nigerians aged 15 years and above addicted to smoking cigarettes, our jobs, not just movie practitioners and industry experts, but also parents, is to rise to the occasion and act right to protect our children and prepare for a smoke-free future.” Oluwafemi stated.