FG to enforce smoking prohibition in Nigerian films  

From Magnus Eze, Enugu

The Federal Government is set to enforce the prohibition of money rituals, ritual killings, smoking and glamorising of vices in Nigerian films.

Executive Director/CEO of the National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB), Dr Shaibu Husseini, disclosed this at a National Stakeholders’ Engagement on Smoke-Free Nollywood held in Enugu.

Organised by the NFVCB and Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA), the event brought movie producers, directors and actors drawn from different parts of the country, under one roof. Leaders of various guilds and associations in the Nigerian film industry also participated in the event.

Husseini said Nigeria was facing an industry emergency requiring bold and ambitious actions from all parents, guardians and stakeholders.

“When my predecessor approached the former Minister of Information, Alhaji Lai Muhammed, on the need to make 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 glamorising 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 regulations 2024.’

“We have also forwarded the approved copy to the Federal Ministry of Justice for Gazette,” he said.

He said the sensitisation programme was to educate stakeholders on the danger inherent in smoking in Nigerian movies.

He explained that aside the health implications, glamorising smoking in films poses a negative influence on teens and young adults who constitute the largest segment of Nigerian movie viewers.

He said that the board was set to undertake detailed enlightenment programmes in secondary schools, tertiary institutions, local communities, faith groups and other institutions.

Husseini further stated: “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 smoke-free Nollywood, and we, therefore, seek your collaboration to develop creative content that discourages smoking and promotes positive health messages.”

Harping on the essence of the programme, Executive Director of CAPPA, Akinbode Oluwafemi urged stakeholders to work towards a smoke-free Nollywood in the interest of a healthy future for Nigerian children.

With more than five million young Nigerians aged 15 years addicted to smoking cigarettes, Olufemi stated that the job, not just as movie practitioners and industry experts but also as parents, was to rise to the occasion and act right to protect children and prepare for a smoke-free future.

“Shockingly, studies have shown that smoking remains prevalent in Nigerian movies in contravention of the NTC Act and the Tobacco Control Regulations 2019, which explicitly prohibits tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorships in movies and entertainment. There is also a clear provision for warnings that should accompany any tobacco depiction that is necessary for “Historical Accuracy and Artistic Expression”.

“With the power to tell the Nigerian story, shape our future, and build a genuinely productive society, Nollywood has a role to play in ensuring that the growing concerns of non-communicable diseases in Nigeria are addressed. There is a need to reverse the role movies and music videos play in painting smoking and tobacco use as a cool way of life,” he stated.