The Federal Government’s recent announcement to enforce a ban on money rituals, ritual killings, smoking, and glamourizing such vices in Nigerian films has sparked mixed reactions from stakeholders in the industry. The National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB) announced the government’s stance during a national stakeholders’ engagement on smoke-free Nollywood in Enugu.
While some practitioners in the industry support the move, others believe it infringes on their fundamental rights and creative expression. Veteran actor Bob Manuel Udokwu clarified that the restrictions are not an outright ban but rather a measure to ensure responsible content creation. However, actress Jennifer Obodo expressed frustration, stating that the government should focus on more pressing issues like poverty, bad roads, and kidnappings rather than dictating what the film industry can and cannot portray.
Nollywood actress Ngozi Eze Evuka suggested that the government should focus on educating children to differentiate between fiction and reality, while Nnaemeka Charles Eze (Nani Boi) lamented that the ban trivializes the country’s more significant challenges. Nelson Bright saw the ban as a positive step in combating human trafficking and illegal organ harvesting but acknowledged its potential to stifle artistic expression and drive talented filmmakers away.
Don Sylvester Nweke, CEO of Don Sylvester Records, argued that banning smoking and rituals in films is unnecessary and would make the industry dull. He suggested rating films like in America and ensuring that movies show the consequences of such acts. Former APGA chairman Maxi Okwu raised concerns about the infringement on Nigerians’ fundamental rights, emphasizing that the constitution guarantees freedom of thought, conscience, and religion.