Unclassified movies: Censors board reconstitutes taskforce

The National Films and Video Censors Board has reconstituted the Task Force Against Unwholesome Movies to sanitise the industry.

Its Director-General, Mr. Dayo Thomas, said the move became imperative based on the socio-economic roles that the film sector played in Nigeria.

According to him, the industry, more than ever, demands an overhaul at the level of policy and implementation so that it can maximise its influence and potential nationally and globally.

Thomas said, “The government recognises the pivotal role the entertainment industry plays in propelling economic growth and creating mass direct and indirect jobs. This is in connection with its drive to diversify and induce more investment in the non-oil sectors. Thus, the inclusion of the creative arena as one of the key sectors in the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan,  which was recently unveiled and which the government is running with, and hence the marching order for those directly connected to the sector to take the industry back to its days of glory.”

He noted that the entertainment industry in Nigeria, with its movies component popularly referred to as ‘Nollywood,’, was estimated to employ over a million people; adding that it was thus the second largest employer of labour in Nigeria after agricultural sector.

Thomas  said, “We have selected men and women of impeccable character, cutting across various interests in the industry, thoroughbred professionals who have immensely contributed to the sector, and who know exactly where the shoe pinches. They are to man the taskforce to be inaugurated any moment from now. One of them is Chief Eddie Ugbomma, a veteran who is never tired, and I am so glad to have him to take on the responsibility of the Patron/Advisor of the group while I assume its chairmanship.”

 Other members of the board are Head of Lagos State Film Censors Board, Mr. Dele Balogun;  notable marketer, Igwe Gab Okoye;  northern Nigerian filmmakers, Hajia Aisha Alil;  and Mallam Malik Awah.

Others are actor Saint Obi, Norbert Ajaegbu and Olatunji Ojetola.

The taskforce has the responsibility to check the proliferation of unclassified or unapproved movies, influx of directly translated foreign movies and distribution of movies by unlicensed agents and distributors. punch