The Nigerian Information Minister, Alhaji Lai Mohammed has changed his tune regarding the proposed review of the National Broadcasting Commission, NBC’s code to include a ban on foreign production of Nigerian movies, reality TV shows and music videos.
The Information Minister who has come under heavy criticism from notable Nigerian artistes after his statement during a visit to the headquarters of the Copyright Society of Nigeria in Lagos has denied the proposed ban.
Speaking on Tuesday during a briefing at the end of a two-day Creative Industry Financing Conference, with the theme ‘Financing the Film, Television and Music Industries,’ held at Eko Hotels, Victoria Island, the Information Minister stated that the Nigerian government will not do anything to tamper with the rights of artistes in the country.
Speaking further, Lai Mohammded said: “At COSON, I said that I would work to amend the National Broadcasting Commission’s code to ensure that if a product is designated a Nigerian product, it must be produced in Nigeria. I didn’t say that, henceforth, all music and films would or must be produced in Nigeria.
He added: “All I said was that if a programme is designated as a Nigerian content programme, we will amend the code to ensure that it is produced in Nigeria. I didn’t say I’ll ban the production of Nigerian movies and videos overseas.”
The denial of the earlier statement comes after Nigerian artistes had called the minister out for attempting to infringe on their rights despite the high cost of production and the economic condition in the country.