RE: DOES CENSORING OR BANNING A MOVIE REALLY WORK?

OGBONNA ONWUMERE contends that

the NFVCB will continue to prioritise responsible filmmaking rather than censorship

The National Film and Video Censors Board, (NFVCB), wishes to respond to a publication in the THISDAY of June 19, 2024, entitled, “Does Censoring or Banning a Movie Really Work? by Samuel Samiai Andrews. 

The NFVCB typically does not engage in public debates, but the inaccuracies in the article necessitated a response. At a point, the Board was bothered whether there was another version of Regulations 2024. Andrews in the said publication stated that, “the government through the National Film and Video Censors Board, (NFVCB), issued a directive to censor and ban certain categories of creative content and expressions of cinematographic works made in Nigeria or made by Nigerian filmmakers (Nollywood)”. 

Without any equivocation, the Board never gave any directive to censor and ban certain categories of creative content and expressions. Rather, what the Board did through its Regulations 2024 and agreed to by all the major stakeholders at the stakeholders engagement that held in Enugu was the need for filmmakers to take responsibility for their actions. The Board and the filmmakers present agreed there was need for them to curtail the use of tobacco, ritual killing, money ritual, nicotine product promotion, glamorization, display in movies, musical videos and skits as contained in Regulations 2024. No fewer than 150 filmmakers at the stakeholders’ meeting endorsed the document. 

The main reason for this endorsement was due to a combination of factors. Firstly, when the Executive Director, Shaibu Hussieni assumed office in March 2024, he immediately commenced discussions with the various stakeholders in the entertainment ecosystem. This was very easy for him, considering he has been a well-known journalist covering the sector, performing artist and cultural administrator. 

 This made the stakeholders regard him as one of their own who would not propose any legislation that would stifle creativity.

Secondly, he passed to the stakeholders the most important message they have been clamoring for: “To move the Board away from Censorship to Classification”. Stakeholders have consistently criticized the NFVCB for its insistence on censorship rather than classification. 

It was therefore surprising to the Board when Andrews alleged that the NFVCB issued a directive to censor and ban certain categories of creative content and expressions. 

Regulations 2024, as the stakeholders testified, is a product of extensive engagements dating back to 2019 when the National Tobacco Control Act was passed into law. The regulation is never self-serving, nor does it suppress creativity. It reflects growing world policy towards tobacco promotion and glamorization. Similar regulations are in place in the US, India, Canada, and some Western nations. 

On the cardinal issue of whether the NFVCB can ban smoking, I wish to state clearly that the Board had never contemplated that. Rather, the Board has been in conversation with the filmmakers to buy into the global campaign for a smoke-free society. The NFVCB is particularly concerned about the promotion and glamorization of tobacco in movies. This is consequent upon the realization that tobacco companies have exploited the ban on tobacco advertising to see Nollywood as a soft target to advertise their trade.  

Andrews can bear me witness that in the United States of America where he wrote in from, there is advocacy for addressing tobacco-smoking scenes in films for teens. The Board is saying, going forward, with the new regulations, 2024, every filmmaker that has a necessary smoking scene in a movie, the filmmaker will take responsibility by putting a health warning as advocated by the Federal Ministry of Health. The warning has to be on the tobacco smoking scene as well as the beginning and ending of the film. Andrews can bear me witness here again that Hollywood films insert on-screen warning signs throughout the duration of the film. They even go further to insert warnings such as: violence, nudity, and strong language permanently on the screen.

It is therefore very regrettable that rather than commend the efforts of the Board, some commentators joined the category of headline readers to allege that the Regulations 2024 might lead to outright ban or censorship of films that depict our indigenous language and culture. This is very far from the truth because the Board knows the contributions of our traditional customs to the growth of Nollywood. It is common knowledge that the first request made by the Executive Director to the Minister of Arts, Culture and Creative Economy, Hannatu Musa Musawa on assumption in office was to seek approval to move the Board from a regime of censorship to classification. The Minister expressly granted this request. One thing the Board has assured stakeholders is that it will never implement any policy that will muzzle creativity. 

Finally, the NFVCB is continuing the conversation with filmmakers. Engagements aimed at promoting safe and healthy screen is expected to berth in other cities soon. The NFVCB, in line with its mandate, will continue to prioritize responsible filmmaking, classification, rather than censorship. The Board will also continue to maintain an open dialogue with industry stakeholders to ensure a thriving creative sector. 

 Onwumere is Director, Corporate Affairs