The Lagos State Film and Video Censors Board on Friday said that all Audio and Visual contents produced and sold within Lagos would henceforth attract payment of five percent levy on each item.
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Mr Bamidele Balogun, Secretary-General of the board told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that the move became necessary to assist the state in policy formulation.
Balogun said that the revenue generated would go a long way in planning and funding of the sector, while practitioners were expected to comply with the authorised agent saddled with the task.
“The five per cent is a way of getting practitioners in the entertainment industry committed to the board who in return, create an enabling environment for them to operate in Lagos.
“All practitioners involved in production, sales, distributions, marketing, exhibition, streaming, downloading, shearing of audio and visual products are required to comply with the development spelt out.
“We have an authorised vendor/agent that sees to the registration, collection of levies, baseline data of practitioners and contents in the entertainment industry in Lagos,” he said
He also called on practitioners in the sector who were operating in Lagos State and were yet to register their products to do so as part of obligation and loyalty to the board.
“This directive was concluded since March 1 but following ongoing health challenge of Covid-19, sensitisation was yet to go into full force.
” Though some practitioners have started complying, several others who have not heard still have opportunity to do so through this medium,” he added.
Meanwhile, Balogun stated that the said five per cent levy would not affect audios, videos or contents that projected information on trending Covid-19.
“The current check or levy would not affect an content that projected vital information on Covid-19 because it is a social service to the nation and society at large,” he told NAN.
He urged Lagosians to be mindful of the pandemic, saying, “COVID-19 is real and spreading”, and they must abide by all levels of government directives.
He further advised them to strictly comply to regular washing of hands, use of sanitisers, keeping away from gathering of more than 20 people.
He also said anyone not feeling well should visit the hospital for test if they felt the symptoms of Coronavirus.