Shaibu Husseini, CEO of the NFVCB, announced the new regulation, titled “Prohibition of Money Ritual, Ritual Killing, Tobacco, Tobacco Products, Nicotine Product Promotion and Glamorisation Display in Movies, Musical Videos and Skits Regulations 2024” at a Nollywood stakeholders meeting in Enugu on Wednesday.
According to Husseini, “The film industry occupies a central position in the entertainment and creative sector, and we must continue to place the highest premium on the progress of the film industry.”
This decision follows a long-running debate about the portrayal of money rituals in Nigerian entertainment. Proponents of the ban argue that these scenes can desensitise viewers to real-world violence and even inspire copycat crimes.
Recent arrests of young Nigerians involved in ritual killings, some of whom mentioned movies as an influence, fueled the debate. However, some people worry that the ban is an infringement on artistic freedom.
