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Tag: NFVCB

  • Board ratifies NFVCB 2018 budget, lauds agency’s leadership

    MEMBERS of the board of National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB) have commended the Executive Director of the agency, Mr. Adedayo Thomas over some reforms on effective steering of Nigerian movie industry.

    NAN reports that the board members noted in Abuja, on Tuesday, that the film censors board, under its current leadership, has been repositioned for better staff welfare and relationship with relevant stakeholders and industry players.

    According to Mr. Lawal Mai-Arewa, Acting Chairman of the Board, “Before we were constituted, the NFVCB as an agency of government has no board until Adedayo Thomas was appointed to head it.

    “So, when he assumed office as the Executive Director, he met a lot of challenges facing the organisation, such as poor staff welfare, accommodation problems and very poor stakeholders-relationship.

    “As a board, we give him a pass mark today, and we are very committed to working with him because he has changed the story for good.

    “In the meeting today, we have ratified the 2018 budget because it was well implemented, as staff welfare, programs and other initiatives other agency are well taken care of,” he said.

    Thomas, who assumed office in March, 2017, spoke on some of his reforms that have taken place in the agency within the two years he had so far.

    He said: “When I assumed office, there was no effective enforcement operation and today that has changed, I even go to the field on enforcement operations.

    “Staff welfare, which was at zero level before I came, is now a topmost priority with two successful promotion exercises conducted under my watch, and that has not happened for a long time.

    “Officers at all levels now have the opportunity to attend film festivals and other relevant events that expose them to how the industry works at the global stage.

    “The board is currently on its media literacy campaign across the six geo-political zones, where Nigerians, especially youths are sensitized on the menace of  piracy and spreading hate speeches on the internet, among others.”

    Corroborating Mai-Arewa, another board member, Hon. Zuwaire Gambo said that for the first time, they are able to understand their roles as board members, and have decided to work according to the mandate of the board.

    “Based on the minutes and reports presented by him, he has shown accountability, prudence and transparency in the day-to-day running of the NFVCB,” she said, adding that, “as an industry person himself, the Executive Director has been able to come up with initiatives and programs that boost the morale of his workforce towards better service delivery by the board. This is what is making it easy for all the board members to key into his vision for the board.”

    She urged members of staff and the management team of the board to support the Executive Director in his poise towards building a strong agency, saying that the task of regulating the evolving Nigeria’s film and video sector, reputed to be largest in Africa and second in the world, was enormous and required a strong and united board.

  • NFVCB to introduce security seal, curb unwholesome films

    The Executive Director of National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB), Mr. Adedayo Thomas, has said that the board would introduce seal that would authenticate classified films, and further curb unwholesome distribution of unclassified and pirated films and videos.

    Thomas disclosed this while delivering a speech at a conference on Film and Video Distribution and Regulation in Emerging New Markets, organised by the NFVCB in Abuja, last Friday.

    The one-day event with the theme, “Institutional  Collaboration to Improve Standards”, brought together filmmakers, distributors, relevant government functionaries, investors and members of the various guilds in the  Nigerian movie industry.

    According to the NFVCB boss, there were emerging trends in film and video distribution which has necessitated measures, including introduction of the authentication label in line with global best practices.

    “The NFVCB is in the process of acquiring film/video authentication labels which are meant to distinguish film and video work that are classified by the board from the ones that are not classified and approved.

    “It will have several security features which cannot be forged or manipulated, which will aid the board to reduce the incidents of piracy to a large extent.

    “When a film is classified and approved, the owner or distributor will apply for the authentication label for the number of copies to be replicated as ascertained by the NFVCB.

    “We therefore need the buy-in of all stakeholders on this laudable project which hopefully will clear the market of unclassified, unapproved and of course, pirated films/videos,” he said.

    Thomas explained that NFVCB, in its effort to serving the fast-growing Nigerian film and video industry better, has drastically reduced the period it takes to censor and classify a film.

    He added that the board was also working towards changing her certificates and licenses by printing new set of the documents with special security features to make them difficult to forge.

    In her address, Mrs Grace Gekpe, Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of  Information and Culture, commended the NFVCB for organising the conference, adding that  stakeholders needed to cooperate with the board towards strengthening  the industry.

    “Movie business or any business for that matter thrives in an atmosphere of strict compliance to laid rules or regulations governing the operations of such business,” she said.

    “The NFVCB  was set up specifically to regulate the film and video business in Nigeria, it is therefore an offence to distribute a movie that has not been classified and approved by the board.”

  • NFVCB raises young ambassadors against hate speech

    Ahead of the governorship and States House of Assembly elections, the federal government’s campaign against hate speech received a boost when the National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB) engaged youths in Lagos, in a one-day seminar tagged ‘Safer Internet Programme And Capacity Building Against Hate Speech.’

    Resource persons from Nollywood, including actor and activist, Hilda Dokubo; filmmaker Tunji Bamishigbin, the popular marketer, Igwe Gab Okoye, aka Gabosky and veteran actor Keppy Ekpenyong Bassey, graced the event which took place on Thursday, March 7, 2019, at the Suru Express Hotel, Ikeja.

    And in attendance were youths from all the local government areas of Lagos State, who were educated on how to resist being used by bigots to fan the embers of hatred in a multi-religious and multi-ethnic nation like Nigeria.

    According to the Convener of the seminar and Executive Director of NFVCB, Alhaji Adedayo Thomas, as content regulators in the media sector, the attention of the youths needs to be channeled towards issues that will promote peace and not division, intolerance and marginalization of the vulnerable.

    He said: “The National Film and Video Censors Board’s Safer Internet programme is aimed at promoting a better and positive use of Digital, Information and Communication Technology. As a content regulator in the media sector, the Board had done a lot to ensure that the internet and the electronic media are not used for negative purposes. As a matter of fact, the internet and the electronic media become unsafe when they are used to propagate fake news and hate speeches.”

    Speaking at the event, Hilda Dokubo engaged the youths with practical example of how information are usually thwarted by a bigots for selfish reasons, causing misinterpretations and disaffection among people.

    “Media has gone beyond film and television, and today, nearly everyone is a Reporter and Content Producer as the social media provides us the free platform of broadcast through WhatsApp, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube,” she said.

    She described hate speeches as activities, and weapons used to instigate, and nearly always results in violence and destruction of all that that the people represent. “At the end of the day we never are able to trace its origin. Sad! Therefore I call my talk today THE ANONYMOUS VOICE,” she said.

    “Hate speeches are a violation of our sensibilities; they attack our people, race, belief, sex, culture and more. These hate people argue passionately about issues, believes, ideas, and policies. It’s not always pretty – but the right to say what we believe, and to publish those beliefs has been and are still an essential part of our freedom as a people and our democracy as a nation and must be said without hate even as we motivate others into action.”

    She advised that rather than spread a hate speech, receivers should delete such messages.

    “The phones are very smart, but I believe you are smarter. This workshop is meant to guide you in such a way that when you get a hate speech, you don’t send it to the next person.”

    Speaking on ‘Social Harm Caused by Film Content and Solution’, Bamishigbin urged participants to engage with people of other tribes and religions, not only as a way of getting to know and understand them better, but to also change their perception of you by making progressive statements. He said it is important to form such associations that cut across divides so that the other person is seen as he truly is; not how a third party has portrayed them.

    “Don’t be a third party hater,” he said, adding: “We should deal with the issue of hate speech with all that we have by demystifying it, verifying it, distilling it and getting better informed.”

  • 250 filmmakers benefit from NFVCB grant in Ogun

    In its empowerment programme across the country, the National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB), has extended a start-up grant to 250 young film entrepreneurs in Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State.

    The two-day event which began on Wednesday, February 6, 2019 at the Rontex Hall, Imowo Road, with a training session by seasoned industry practitioners and theatre arts lecturers offered participants insights into a successful career in filmmaking.

    Anchored by Associate Professor Tunji Azeez of the Lagos State University (LASU), facilitators include, Professor Olu Obafemi of the Department of Theatre and Performing Arts, University of Ilorin; Professor Shola Fosudo of the Department of Theatre and Music, Lagos State University; Professor Rasaki Ojo-Bakare of the Federal University, Oye-Ekiti; and Professor Ayo Akinwale of the Department of Theatre and Performing Arts, University of Ilorin.

    In his opening remarks, Executive Director of NFVCB, Alhaji Adedayo Thomas, said that the initiative was a deliberate effort by the NFVCB to bridge the gap between established industry players and upcoming ones across Nigeria.

    He noted that all similar interventions and support efforts by either government or investors had been directed more at established names in the industry, with little or no support for new entrants.

    “As the key regulator of the Nigerian motion picture industry, the board has decided to bring practical knowledge of how to be successful in the sector to these passionate youths.

    “As part of the empowerment initiative, we have brought experts from the academia and seasoned practitioners in the industry, to train these youths to enable them build a successful career in the sector.

    “We do  not only  train them but  we are also giving grants to 250 selected ones, as part  of our efforts at assisting stakeholders in the industry, especially the young ones.

    “This is to enable them start something or go for more practical training in filmmaking business, by attending filmmaking courses in acting, script writing, directing and production,” he said.

    The training in Ijebu-Ode was the fifth in the series, following previous outings in Amuwo-Odofin, and Oshodi in Lagos; Port Harcourt in Rivers State, and Nnewi in Anambra State.

    Adedayo explained that the board, under his watch would ensure that every Nigerian film-stakeholder got motivated, irrespective of geographical divide.

    “The NFVCB has operational offices in the six geo-political zones of our country, and from January we began this empowerment programme for all the zones.

    “We decided to come to Ijebu-Ode, a town in the South-West for inclusiveness, outside the usual focus on state capitals.

    “From that point, we shall follow-up on these beneficiaries to ensure they are well guided and mentored,” he said.

    Professor Obafemi who spoke on Why Film is Key Aspect of Development advocated infrastructural and resource development of the industry, urging government to take seriously, its economic diversification agenda, by enabling the creative industry to the degree of providing 30 percent of the country’s workforce.

    Ojo-Bakare, while speaking on Exploring Dance and Music for a More Effective Film Industry in Nigeria, emphasise the need to use more kinetic energy to generate interest of film lovers, averring that verbal narratives, being a cultural attitude, is the problem of most Nigerian films. He decried situations whereby dialogues override actions, just as soundtracks also break suspense, adding that dance and music, could be injected to break unnecessary dialogues, using the Bollywood example.

    Akinwale, whose talk at the event was centered on motivation, explore the theme: Film and My Life. The veteran artiste who disclosed that his children and cousins are also doing well in the film industry, noted that he had maintained passion and self-discipline on the job. He urged beneficiaries of the NFVCB grant to utilize the fund judiciously.

    The seminar which was attended by several other film practitioners had the president of Theatre Art and Movie Producers Association of Nigeria (TAMPAN), Bolaji Amusan, aka Mr. Latin as rapporteur.

    Mr. Latin who was full of praise for the Executive Director of NFVCB, Alhaji Adedayo Thomas wanted the seminar extended to film associations, confessing that he learnt new things from the session, and that he was not ashamed to admit this despite his years of experience in the film industry.

  • NFVCB takes training to Port Harcourt, Nnewi

    After opening its 2019 workshop series in Lagos, the National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB) has taken its roadshow to the South-South and South-East zones of the country, making stops in Port Harcourt and Nnewi last week.

    In Port Harcourt, Rivers State, the programme, tagged ‘Media Literacy Capacity Building On Film Classification & Empowerment For Youth’ took place from January 15 to16, 2019 at the Algate Hotel, an exercise facilitated by Hon. Boma Goodhead in the Asari Toru/Akuku Toru Federal Constituency.

    Participants had a great time interacting with veteran actress and youth advocate, Hilda Dokubo, a daughter of the soil who helmed the talks on Film Classification.

    Dokubo spoke with the most familiar references, language, gags and slangs of Rivers people.

    “I’m going to make it as interactive as possible,” she began, as she threw a question that set the ball rolling. “When you buy a film, how many of you flip to the back jacket to see the Classification Symbol? She asked.

    None responded in the affirmative.

    “So, that’s a problem,” she declared.

    Enumerating some of the categories of classification, Dokubo explained that there was the need to adhere strictly to the rules.

    “If there is a breach of classification rule, there is a problem. The problem is however not for the filmmaker but for the person that allowed the breach, because classification plays the role of informing, plays the role of healing and places responsibility on everyone, including the producer and adults.”

    She advocated special class for movies that encourage good virtues in people as well as those that protect the gender.

    The actress who frowned at stereotype contents in Nollywood movies pointed out that as a way of changing the narrative, producers must desist from stories that portray the police as bribe collectors, soldier as civilian beaters, the girl-child doing the home chores while the boy-child plays football, as well as movies that portray career woman as endangering their home and marriage, while the full-time housewife is seen as the ideal women.

    In Nnewi, the industrial nerve of the South East geo- political zone, it was a gathering of notable stakeholders in the creative industry from Nnewi North/South and Ekwusigo Federal Constituencies.

    The event which held on Thursday, January 17, 2019, was an empowerment workshop for youths in the movie and entertainment industry from that area. They include actors, script writers, movie producers and directors, marketers, costumiers, editors and other crew members within the movie production chain.

    In his opening remarks, Executive Director of the National Film and Video Censors Board, Alhaji Adedayo Thomas urged participants to avail themselves of this rear opportunity to carve a niche for themselves within the creative industry. He noted that the essence of the training was; to develop participants’ interest and understanding of classification; make participants ambassadors of film classification by letting their children know what to watch and watch not to watch; and assist in lobbying policy makers on important classification recommendations.

    In a bid to create a solid foundation for the participants, NFVCB’s Zonal Coordinator, South-East, Mr. Hubert Odeh presented a talk on the Rudiments of Classification, giving brief background history and workings of the Board.

    Responding on behalf of participants, Chief Ossy Affason of Ossy Affason Distribution Company encouraged filmmakers to always take advantage of such golden opportunities to develop themselves, while urging those within the creative industry to close ranks in order to build a virile and formidable industry.

    High point of the workshop was the distribution of grants to participants by the Executive Director of NFVCB.

  • NFVCB takes training to Port Harcourt, Nnewi

    After opening its 2019 workshop series in Lagos, the National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB) has taken its roadshow to the South-South and South-East zones of the country, making stops in Port Harcourt and Nnewi last week.

    In Port Harcourt, Rivers State, the programme, tagged ‘Media Literacy Capacity Building On Film Classification & Empowerment For Youth’ took place from January 15 to16, 2019 at the Algate Hotel, an exercise facilitated by Hon. Boma Goodhead in the Asari Toru/Akuku Toru Federal Constituency.

    Participants had a great time interacting with veteran actress and youth advocate, Hilda Dokubo, a daughter of the soil who helmed the talks on Film Classification.

    Dokubo spoke with the most familiar references, language, gags and slangs of Rivers people.

    “I’m going to make it as interactive as possible,” she began, as she threw a question that set the ball rolling. “When you buy a film, how many of you flip to the back jacket to see the Classification Symbol? She asked.

    None responded in the affirmative.

    “So, that’s a problem,” she declared.

    Enumerating some of the categories of classification, Dokubo explained that there was the need to adhere strictly to the rules.

    “If there is a breach of classification rule, there is a problem. The problem is however not for the filmmaker but for the person that allowed the breach, because classification plays the role of informing, plays the role of healing and places responsibility on everyone, including the producer and adults.”

    She advocated special class for movies that encourage good virtues in people as well as those that protect the gender.

    The actress who frowned at stereotype contents in Nollywood movies pointed out that as a way of changing the narrative, producers must desist from stories that portray the police as bribe collectors, soldier as civilian beaters, the girl-child doing the home chores while the boy-child plays football, as well as movies that portray career woman as endangering their home and marriage, while the full-time housewife is seen as the ideal women.

    In Nnewi, the industrial nerve of the South East geo- political zone, it was a gathering of notable stakeholders in the creative industry from Nnewi North/South and Ekwusigo Federal Constituencies.

    The event which held on Thursday, January 17, 2019, was an empowerment workshop for youths in the movie and entertainment industry from that area. They include actors, script writers, movie producers and directors, marketers, costumiers, editors and other crew members within the movie production chain.

    In his opening remarks, Executive Director of the National Film and Video Censors Board, Alhaji Adedayo Thomas urged participants to avail themselves of this rear opportunity to carve a niche for themselves within the creative industry. He noted that the essence of the training was; to develop participants’ interest and understanding of classification; make participants ambassadors of film classification by letting their children know what to watch and watch not to watch; and assist in lobbying policy makers on important classification recommendations.

    In a bid to create a solid foundation for the participants, NFVCB’s Zonal Coordinator, South-East, Mr. Hubert Odeh presented a talk on the Rudiments of Classification, giving brief background history and workings of the Board.

    Responding on behalf of participants, Chief Ossy Affason of Ossy Affason Distribution Company encouraged filmmakers to always take advantage of such golden opportunities to develop themselves, while urging those within the creative industry to close ranks in order to build a virile and formidable industry.

    High point of the workshop was the distribution of grants to participants by the Executive Director of NFVCB.

  • NFVCB holds training on film classification

    The second in a series of workshops planned for 2019, the National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB), at the weekend, held a three-day training on “The Essence of Classification In Film Production”.

    The train-the-trainer event which held from January 11-13, 2019, at the Peridot Hotel and Suites, Amuwo-Odofin, Lagos, had participants from the 56 Local Government Areas of Lagos State, who are expected to impact their various constituencies subsequently.

    Considering the strategic roles played by women in the home, the training was also in celebration of this year’s Women in the Business of Film Production Week, with Nollywood veteran actress and youth advocate, Hilda Dokubo, as Keynote Speaker.

    Other facilitators include, Relationship Coach, Zeezee Okuneye (Mentorship); filmmaker Niji Akanni (How to Read Nigerian Films); Cecilia Abiola Odusanya (Role of Women in Filmmaking); Professor Tunji Azeez (Art of story-telling in nation branding); Keppy Ekpeyong Bassey (Essence of Classification); and Fred Amata (Film as Catalyst for National Growth).

    In his opening remarks, Executive Director, NFVCB, Alhaji Adedayo Thomas noted that the essence of the training was; to develop participants’ interest and understanding of classification; make participants ambassadors of film classification by letting their children know what to watch and watch not to watch; assist in lobbying policy makers on important classification recommendations; and make them ambassadors of the NFVCB generally.

    “Constitutionally, we are all police in this regard, but this conference is expected to give you a sense of belonging and enhance your drive towards ensuring that classification guides are adhered to. On a lighter note, this is also a forum for interaction. The training has been designed in a lighter and interactive way. I assure you that, you are going to have fun while at it,” said Thomas.

    Dokubo, who started off with the evolution of Nollywood as a home video industry, said she was usually delighted when called upon to talk about the Nigerian motion picture industry.

    She noted that Nollywood came to fill a gap, “Because we produce for home, and in building the content, we put the family in mind. So, Nollywood should be seen from the angle of content and not necessarily because it started on VHS format.”

    She enumerated all the categories of classification, explaining the need to adhere strictly to the rules. “If there is a breach of classification rule, there is a problem. The problem is however not for the filmmaker but for the person that allowed the breach, because classification plays the role of informing, plays the role of healing and places responsibility on everyone, including the producer and adults.”

    In view of the prevalent claims of sexual abuse, assault and harassment, she advocated for classification rules that are gender sensitive.

    “Because today, we celebrate women in the business of film production, it is important to look at the cases of abuse and sexual harassment of females, and consider classifications that are gender sensitive. I feel strongly that, if indeed classification protects, then we should use it to protect,” she said.

    According to Dokubo, classification should be all encompassing, thus, she asked: “Why would people avoid going to the NFVCB for censorship if they know it would protect their works and their viewers? Because it has not been all encompassing. It has left out some people. Why don’t we do our bit to protect everyone? Classification is not static just like everything in the world. We know about PG, 18 etcetera. How about RC (Restricted Classification)? When a movie is completely out of order, let us say it is out of order. We can try to be like Hollywood only in technicality and not in content.

    “We cannot create standards if we do not classify our movies. We should also classify TV contents because some of the things on TV don’t make sense, and censoring them when they are on air will only raise the sensitive glands of young people,” she said.

    The event was also attended by Directors at NFVCB, Fatimah Hajju Abdulkadir and Alonge-Oyadiran, staff members of the agency, and personalities from the creative industry such as Fuji musician, Alhaji Sefiu Alao; film marketer Gabriel Okoye, aka Igwe Gabosky; President of Association of Movie Producers (AMP), Mr. Ralph Nwadike among others.

  • NFVCB: Nollywood groups stand with Adedayo Thomas

    Notable stakeholders in the Nigerian motion picture industry, Friday, took a unanimous position in support of embattled Executive Director of the National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB), Alhaji Adedayo Thomas who, last week, appeared at an Abuja Magistrate Court over petition by some employees of the agency.

    Liking the battle against Adedayo Thomas to ‘calling a dog a bad name in order to hang it’, the concerned stakeholders averred that , not only is someone interested in  Thomas’ office, his fight against pirates may have unsettled corrupt officers within the agency.

    Represented by their various associations, and issuing a joint press statement on the matter, the groups were led by Mr. Ralph Nwadike, President of Association of Movie Producers (AMP); Mr.  Tunji Ojetola, Vice president Yoruba Film and Video Producers and Marketers Association of Nugeria (YOFIVPMAN); and Mr. Emeka Aduah, President of Film and Video Producers and Marketers of Nigeria (FVPMAN).

    Others are Igwe Gab Okoye, aka Gabosky and Norbert Ajaegbu (Esq), who are members of the NFVCB’s special taskforce against unlicensed and unclassified movies.

    Also at the event, which took place at Ojez, National Stadium, was actor Adewale Eleshi and film marketer, Aina Kushoro, aka Kush among others.

    The  angry stakeholders called on the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed and the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Mrs. Grace Isu Gekpe to intervene by bringing the petitioners to book, and allow Thomas continue his good works.

    According to them, he (Thomas), upon assuming office, “penetrated and orchestrated several raid in the notorious Alaba market,” a move which “did not go down well with certain staff of the Board who openly expressed their resentfulness and even reached out to some members of the industry to express that the new Executive Director is acting against the norms of contracting staff or the Board to carry out the raids.”

    They alleged that the aggrieved staff of the board “are used to the corrupt regime of disbursing budgets for raids on paper without any practical raid nor effect on the film market.”

    “We must state and affirm that Alhaji Adedayo Thomas proved to us that government agencies can positively affect the industry – an experience we had last when Emeka Mbah left the Board,” they stated.

    Enumerating some of the impacts the NFVCB boss has had on practitioners in recent times, they said “the Censors Board supports industry festivals and awards, sponsor and involve itself in raids against uncensored and unclassified movies, sponsor stakeholders to international film festivals and brought government closer to practitioners.

    “Most interesting is that Adebayo Thomas is one such – example of a distinguished administrator set to accomplish such primary purpose.

    “We therefore humbly call on the Honourable Minister of Information and Communication to investigate and bring to book, all staff of the Board engaged in the writing of frivolous petitions against Alhaji Adedayo Thomas,” they said, adding that, “Such staff have no reason to remain in the civil service.”

    In the same vein, the groups want the Minister to look seriously into circumstances that led to the recent resignation of filmmaker Tunde Kelani as chairman of the Board of NFVCB.

    “We also urge the Honourable Minister to dissolve the 52-man board and put in place a sizeable board that will have a meaningful deliberation and action plan.

    “We may be forced to seize and stop the censorship of movies if the ungodly politics of these civil servants remain unabated,” they warned, while imploring Thomas “to continue his good works and to count on the unflinching support of the Nollywood industry which is open to any good government administrator.”

    Recall that Thomas was reportedly charged to court for allegedly breaking the fence of the zonal office of the agency, stealing a 500KVA power generating set on February 6, 2017, and selling it for N30 million.

    The stakeholders rebuffed the allegations, wondering how a 38-year-old power generating set could be sold for that amount, while also reacting to claim that the Executive Director misappropriated the sum of N150m, when the board’s capital budget in 2017 was just N22m.

    They accused the lead petitioner, Cornell Agim, who is the most senior civil servant in the agency of bias and unfounded claims, as a way to get Thomas out of the way.

  • NFVCB seizes pirated films worth N200m

    NFVCB seizes pirated films worth N200m

    The National Film and Video Censors Board ( NFVCB ) said it seized uncensored, unclassified and pirated films worth about N200 million and arrested 12 suspected pirates between March and December, 2017.

    Mr Adedayo Thomas, the Executive Director of NFVCB made the disclosure in an interview in Lagos on Wednesday.

    Thomas said that pirated items were confiscated at Alaba International Market, Lagos, Kubwa, Banex Plaza and Wuse Market in Abuja, as well as Benin City in Edo and Kaduna.

    He explained that the seized items include; DVD’s, CD’s, Production equipment and copies of several pirated films.

    “The board has scaled up its enforcement activities for the New Year and are intensifying efforts to make this evil business of pirates becomes unbearable for those that have seen it as a means of making quick money.

    “The board will ensure total sanity and get rid of pirates in the industry, while the right owners of works enjoy the fruit of their hard labour,” he said.

    According to him, the 12 suspects arrested in Lagos and Abuja would soon be charged to court for prosecution.

    Thomas said that such action would serve as deterrent to others thinking of going into such business and prevent such illegal products from selling in the market at the expense of genuine ones.

    The Executive Director added that the action was part of the board’s enforcement operations in sanitising the Nigerian market of illegal films.

    He explained that the board had lined up nationwide raid against uncensored, unclassified and pirated films to ensure that such products were completely removed from the movie market.

    The NFVCB boss noted that the motion picture industry was not all about entertainment, but a big business that must be encouraged and protected to grow and bring profit to its investors.

    Thomas said that the creative industry was acclaimed to have contributed 1.4 per cent to Nigeria’s GDP and can do more.

    He commended the Bank of Industry ( BoI ) and Tonye Princewill, the executive producer of film “79 for supporting the board to discharge its mandate effectively.

    Also Read: NFVCB confiscates pirated materials worth N150m at Alaba Market

    “Bank of industry (BoI) support the Censors Board with the sum of N500,000 and three powerful motorcycles, while Tonye Princewill gives the board N500,000 to repair its abandoned operational vehicle used for raiding of pirates on the street.

    “BoI and Tonye Prince will have been supporting any drive that would enhance the commercial viability of the films and creative industry.

    “Recently, BoI gives two powerful motorcycles to the board as part of machinery needed to carry out its work smoothly.

    “I am indeed grateful and happy towards their gesture, and I appeal to other stakeholders, individuals and philanthropists to support and partner with the board to be effective and efficient in discharging its mandate, ” he said.

    Thomas said that BoI was a major financier of the creative sector, having invested heavily in the development of infrastructure and movie production in the country.

    NAN

  • NFVCB confiscates pirated materials worth N150m at Alaba Market

    NFVCB confiscates pirated materials worth N150m at Alaba Market

    The National Film and Video Censors Board ( NFVCB ) has seized pirated materials worth N150 million at Alaba International Market in Lagos and arrested five suspects.

    Mr Adedayo Thomas, the Director-General (DG) of the board in Lagos on Thursday revealed that the seizure was made between May and October.

    He said that the pirated materials seized include: CDs, Videos CDs and literary works.

    He also added that the seizure followed the information the board gathered from some people at the market regarded as the hub for piracy.

    “We have our informants that spy the market on a regular basis, once they notice any form of piracy operations going on there, they inform the board.

    “The seizure of the N150 million worth of materials is a result of the information giving to the board on the mass productions of some films that are yet to be made public.

    “When our anti-piracy squad assisted by some police men got to the market, we saw pirated copies of films yet to be produced littering the whole environment and were being sold it at cheaper prices.

    “By Nov. 30, the board will start the court proceedings of those arrested for piracy,’’ he said.

    Thomas likened piracy to a murder case, robbery or economy sabotage where the suspect wanted to reap where he or she did not sow.

    He said that the legitimate owners were usually subjected to huge debts and loss.

    “The board is going hard on piracy. We are working seriously to reduce piracy to its barest minimum in our environment.

    “The board will go on street campaigns and to secondary schools to enlighten them not to patronise pirated materials and explain the implications of doing so on the rightful owners,’’ he said.

    The DG said that the board also frowned at nude movies adding that it was not part of its culture.

    He said that nude movies always had negative impacts on the lives of the masses and an abuse on the society.

    “We are not going to accept that as we had not done in the past. We are going hard in banning such movies from being shown on air,’’ he said.

    Thomas said that the board was also looking at reviewing some of its policies and laws to suit contemporary situations.

    He advised Nigerians not to buy pirated materials on the streets or from any unlicensed people selling such works.

    The DG said that the industry was worth billions of naira, and urged government and stakeholders to utilise the opportunity in the sector judiciously.

    “The industry is generating billions but losing more to piracy.

    “Actors, actresses, producers, marketers and other stakeholders are not happy with the loss to piracy.

    “The board is doing all it can to sanitise the industry for producers, film makers and other relevant stakeholders to enjoy the fruits of their labour,’’ he said.

    NAN