The cinema culture in the country seems to be on the increase in recent times, a fact that has been attested to by movie viewers. This could also be seen easily in the number of movie houses springing up across the nation.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that on the basis of the upsurge of movie houses here and there, especially in Lagos and other major cities, movie viewers have responded to the development with enthusiasm, spending their time at weekends in such places.
NAN reports that there was a lull in the cinema business with the advent of video machines which afforded people the opportunity to watch movies at home and even at a lesser cost since they could view different movies in a day.
The situation was further compounded by the emergence of the digital satellite television which also offered viewers a variety of shows.
These developments led to the closure of major cinema houses and there conversion to houses of religious worship.
But in 2004, Ben Murray Bruce, now a Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, under the auspices of his Silver Bird Group, opened the Silver Bird Galleria which has about five cinema halls and a shopping mall.
Nigerians since then began to change their attitude of watching films at home to visiting the cinemas, causing a revival of the industry.
In Lagos, some of the popular cinema houses that had gone moribund include the Pen Cinema, Agege, Roxy Cinema, Apapa, Casino, Yaba, Oregie Cinema Ajegunle.
However, some have rebounded, while some are undergoing renovation with a view to once more offer services to the people.
Some viewers who spoke to NAN about their experiences said it offered them the leisure they needed to take their minds off the week’s work in their offices, business and academics.
A banker, Mary Ajagbe, told NAN that movie outings at weekends had also added to her itinerary which included picnic at the beach and shopping at the malls.
Ajagbe added that the new cinema culture in the country had made her to be up to date with current Hollywood and Nollywood movies in their original forms.
“I enjoy my weekend outings these days because of the options I have on my leisure times at weekends.
“I hope that more cinema houses will be built across Lagos and other cities in Nigeria,” she said.
Isaac Oladele, a student at Yaba College of Technology, who spoke to NAN in the premises of Ozone Cinema, Yaba, said that his weekends were usually reserved for movies.
“I watch mainly on weekends while some people come to watch movies regularly every day, Mondays to Fridays, and also during the weekend.
“Most of the movies are Western and sometimes Nollywood movies. I always look forward to my weekends because of this,” he said.
In the same vein, Temidayo Esohe, a student told NAN that the current cinema culture in the country was a good development for leisure at weekends.
“The cinema viewership is very encouraging most especially when you come during the weekend.
“People usually come in the night on Saturdays and after church service on Sundays because there is a church close by,” she said.
Meanwhile, Bode Olawale, a student of the University of Lagos, who sells movie ticket on part time basis at the Ozone Cinema, told NAN that ticket sales had been very lucrative because of the influx of movie goers.
“Our customers are mainly students from University of Lagos and Yaba College of Technology who attend our shows on a regular basis.
“The development has made it possible for me to make extra pocket money in addition to what my parents usually give to me for my upkeep,” Olawale said.
