‘You are joking’ says Kanayo .O. Kanayo, Mike Okri over FG ban on money rituals, smoking in movies

Renowned actor Kanayo .O. Kanayo and music legend Mike Okri have expressed disapproval towards the recent decision by the Federal Government to ban the portrayal of smoking, money rituals, and killings in Nigerian films, skits, and music videos. They have criticized this move as being laughable and absurd.

On Wednesday, the Executive Director CEO of the National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB), Dr. Shaibu Husseini, sanctioned the banning of depictions of money rituals, ritual killings, tobacco products, nicotine products, and glamorization in movies, music videos, and skits. This decision was made in accordance with Section 65 of the NFVCB Act 2004.

The NFVCA chief revealed this information during a National Stakeholders Engagement on Smoke-Free Nollywood, organized in collaboration with Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA) in Enugu.

In response to this development, veteran musician Mike Okri criticized the federal government’s actions as an attempt to stifle the film industry, labeling it as a joke.

He emphasized that the government should address the real challenges facing the country instead of targeting filmmakers.

Similarly, popular actor Kanayo O. Kanayo referred to the government’s move as sensible nonsense, questioning the Minister of Arts, Culture and Creative Economy’s decision to approve measures that restrict filmmakers’ freedom of expression.

Husseini emphasized that the censorship board remains dedicated to promoting a healthy environment in the film industry by ensuring that films, music videos, and skits do not portray or glorify harmful behaviors such as smoking, violence, crime, immorality, ritualistic killings, or money rituals.

The NFVCB chief highlighted the urgent need for collective action from parents, guardians, and stakeholders to address the current challenges facing the industry.

Following discussions with CAPPA, the NFVCB has decided to introduce additional regulations specifically addressing smoking in movies, as this was not previously addressed in existing laws.