The National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB) has stressed why the law on smoking should be enforced, also reiterating that every video and film must be reviewed and classified by the board before being released to the public.
NFVCB Executive Director, Shaibu Husseini stated this during an address on morality and ethics in film production at the Lagos International Film and Cinema Convention (LIFACC).
The event, held on Thursday at EbonyLife Place, Victoria Island, Lagos, was attended by notable industry figures such as Joke Silva, Alibaba, Keppy Ekpeyong, Mahmood Ali-Balogun, Ogbonna Onwumere, and others.
In his address to producers, exhibitors, and distributors in the film industry, Husseini discussed crucial topics including the prohibition of rituals, smoking, and the importance of film classification and licensing.
Regarding film licensing and classifications, he emphasized the legal requirement that all films, including skits, must be vetted by the censors board before public release.
“To produce, the law states that any film or video work used in this country, before you put it on any platform, must be passed through the censors board for classification,” he declared.
Husseini referenced a viral video of a woman allegedly tearing her husband’s passport at the Lagos airport, which was later revealed to be a skit. He noted that when asked if the skit had been classified, his response was “No.”
Addressing the prohibition of smoking in films, Husseini clarified that the regulation is not of his making. “I didn’t make the law. In fact, when I joined the censors board and saw the regulation, I realized the importance of enforcing it. There is a National Tobacco Act in place,” he explained, stressing that the promotion of smoking is strictly prohibited.
Regarding the depiction of rituals in movies, Husseini called for moderation, especially in scenes that might negatively influence young viewers. He also recounted a discussion with the EFCC chairman, who expressed concern over a troubling trend in the film industry that appears to glorify criminal activities like kidnapping.
Husseini echoed these concerns, highlighting recent news reports of practitioners involved in such activities. On the portrayal of same-sex relationships in films, Husseini reiterated that such content is not accepted under Nigerian law.
