Nigerian Film Industry Urges Government to Retain Regulatory Agency Amid Oronsaye Report Implementation

The Nigerian film industry, also known as Nollywood, is appealing to the Federal Government to retain the National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB) as its regulatory agency. This comes as the government begins implementing the Oronsaye Report, which recommends the merger or subsuming of the board into a ministry.

Stakeholders in the industry, including veteran filmmakers and industry associations, have expressed concerns that any alteration to the current status of the board would be counterproductive and hinder the industry’s contributions to the national economy.

Paul Apel-Papel, a renowned filmmaker, emphasized that Nollywood is too large to be without a specific agency like the NFVCB to regulate its affairs. He argued that the industry is growing rapidly and needs a dedicated agency to focus on its development.

“We are not in support of subsuming or merger because we are even looking forward to a specific ministry that will focus on Nollywood properly as we grow from here,” Apel-Papel said. “The Federal Government should think of how it can actually make a specific focus on Nollywood the way it is doing for agriculture, because after agriculture, the industry is the largest employer of labor.”

Habib Mohammed, National President of the Motion Picture Practitioners Association of Nigeria (MOPPAN), also expressed concerns about the potential impact of merging or subsuming the board. He noted that it would be difficult for a regulatory body in a critical sector like the film industry to function effectively as a department.

“The move to subsume the board as part of the ministry will be a real setback to the development already achieved,” Mohammed said. “Let us not forget that the board was in the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture as a department, and the creation of the board has developed the industry to where it is today. Let the policymakers have a rethink and we are also calling on the National Assembly to stand on its feet for the board to keep its statutory position.”

The Nigerian film industry has grown significantly in recent years, with Nollywood becoming a major employer of labor and a significant contributor to the country’s economy. The industry is known for producing a wide range of films, including dramas, comedies, and action movies, and has gained popularity not only in Nigeria but also globally.

The government’s decision to implement the Oronsaye Report has sparked concerns among stakeholders in the industry, who are urging policymakers to reconsider the proposal and retain the NFVCB as a separate agency.