In a move that has sparked concern among content creators and advocates for freedom of expression, the Nigerian government, led by President Bola Tinubu, has announced plans to arrest skitmakers who release content online without approval from the National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB).
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The National Film and Video Censors Board in a statement has announced plans to arrest skitmakers who release content online without approval.
The board, led by Shaibu Husseini, in a statement on social media warned filmmakers and content creators who produce, promote, and distribute unapproved and prohibited content on various social media platforms to desist forthwith.
The statement highlighted the board’s growing concern over the proliferation of contents that violate Nigeria’s censorship laws.
“The attention of the National Film and Video Censors Board has been drawn to the activities of some unscrupulous filmmakers/content creators’ who are clearly flouting the provisions of the country’s law with impunity,” the statement began.
The board specifically called out the production and dissemination of same-sex content on platforms such as Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and Twitter, which he said was illegal in Nigeria.
The board responsible for the censorship and classification of films and videos in Nigeria emphasized the legal requirement for film and video content, including skits and music videos, to be classified by the NFVCB before being distributed or exhibited on any platform.
Reminding content creators and filmmakers about the 2014 Same-Sex Marriage (Prohibition) Act, the board said, “It is an offence to directly or indirectly make public show (Exhibition) of same-sex relationship in Nigeria.”
“It is also an offence to distribute or exhibit any film or video content including skits and musical videos on any platform without recourse to the National Film and Video Censors Board for classification,” the statement reiterated.
In a warning to content creators, the NFVCB announced that it was collaborating with security agencies to identify and take legal action against those flouting the regulations.
He said, “The Board therefore wishes to state categorically that we are working with relevant security agencies to track the individuals and production companies involved.”
