Popular Nigerian actor Kanayo O. Kanayo and music legend Mike Okri have expressed their disapproval of the recent decision by the Nigerian government to ban smoking and the glorification of money rituals and killings in Nigerian films, skits, and music videos.
The Federal Government announced the approval of the prohibition of money rituals, ritual killings, tobacco, tobacco products, nicotine product promotion, and glamorization in movies, music videos, and skits in accordance with Section 65 of the NFVCB Act 2004.
Dr. Shaibu Husseini, the NFVCB boss, revealed this during a National Stakeholders Engagement on Smoke-Free Nollywood event in Enugu in partnership with Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA).
In response to this decision, Mike Okri criticized the government’s move, calling it a joke and accusing them of trying to stifle the creative industry instead of addressing real issues facing the country.
Similarly, Kanayo O. Kanayo described the government’s decision as ‘sensible nonsense’ and questioned the Minister of Arts, Culture, and the Creative Economy’s authority to impose such restrictions on filmmakers.
