Nollywood actor Kanayo O. Kanayo has criticized the Federal Government’s directive for stakeholders in the movie industry to eliminate smoking, ritual scenes, and other similar content from films, calling the measure a joke.
News Agency of Nigeria reports that during a summit on Wednesday in Enugu State, stakeholders were informed by Shaibu Husseini, the Chief Executive Officer of the National Film and Video Censors Board, that the federal government had approved a ban on scenes depicting money rituals, smoking, and crimes that glamourize vices in Nollywood movies.
Husseini stated, “The government approved the prohibition of money ritual, ritual killing, tobacco, tobacco products, nicotine product promotion, and their display in movies, musical videos, and skits.”
According to Vanguard, Kanayo O. Kanayo labeled the move as “sensible nonsense,” and criticized the Minister of Arts, Culture, and Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa, for what he called a stifling measure against filmmakers.
Similarly, Okri described the federal government’s action as a joke, suggesting it was an attempt to silence the movie industry. “Whoever is behind this from the FG is joking. It’s a way to silence the movie industry. They should focus on the real challenges facing the country,” Okri said.
