NFVCB, Tobacco Community Commit To Smoke-free Nollywood
The National Film and Video Censor Board (NFVCB) and the tobacco
community have reaffirmed their commitment to a smoke-free Nollywood, as
Nigeria’s movie industry is informally known.
tobacco control community led by pan-African not-for-profit Corporate
Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA).
The NFVCB’s Executive Director Dr. Shaibu Husseini pledged to implement
draft tobacco-control regulations for the entertainment industry, as
soon as the document receives ministerial approval.
He reasoned that this would help prevent the tobacco industry from
continuing to sidestep the ban on tobacco products advertising on
television.
The regulations, drafted in 2022 by the tobacco community and the NFVCB,
aim to prohibit Tobacco Advertising, Promotion and Sponsorship (TAPS) in
movies, music videos, skits, and glamorization of smoking.
The tobacco control community is seeking its passage.
The delegation’s team was led by CAPPA’s Executive Director Mr. Akinbode
Oluwafemi, who is also Chairman of the Nigerian Tobacco Control Alliance
(NTCA). Also present were NTCA representatives, as well as the
in-country coordinator and Associate Director of Capacity Building from
CTFK, Mr. Michael Olaniyan.
Husseini unfolded his vision for his office, including a plan to
establish a producers/scriptwriters lab for the capacity development of
stakeholders in the industry to create further awareness of the NFVCB
Act and regulation.
He also proposed a special workshop for the capacity development of
producers, directors, and scriptwriters tagged “PDS workshop”.
“The proposed workshop will have in attendance music video directors,
filmmakers, and skit makers, the campaign will also seek to curb the
unnecessary display of bad habits that are promoted in the entertainment
sector.
“The resolution and outcomes from the workshop will be publicized and
some of the industry giants will be endorsed as ambassadors of the
smoke-free Nollywood initiative,” Husseini added.
He canvassed support from the alliance.
Mr. Oluwafemi emphasized the hazards of smoking on health, noting that
globally, countries are “implementing programmes to mitigate tobacco
addiction, minimize and/or eradicate the depiction of smoking in the
media, including movies save for artistic/ historical expressions which
must include a caveat on the dangers of smoking.
“Nigeria, as a signatory to resolutions and conventions adopted at the
World Health Assembly to reduce the harmful use of tobacco, has taken
significant steps in this regard by enacting the National Tobacco
Control Act, 2015, and its offshoot the National Tobacco Control
Regulation, 2019.”
He lamented that despite these measures, the tobacco industry persists
in finding ways to circumvent the ban on advertising tobacco products on
television.
“One notable tactic is leveraging the movie industry to promote their
products clandestinely under the guise of artistic expression.
“The board has the power to regulate the use of tobacco in movies even
if it is for artistic expression, and some conditions must be satisfied
in the cause of filming process.”
Buttressing Akinbode’s position, Mr. Olaniyan of CTFK stressed that “The
law is clear on the use of tobacco in movies, subtle advertisements in
movies under the guise of artistic/historical expression.
“Historical accuracy, legitimate journalistic or artistic expression
needs to satisfy certain conditions which include that the movie is not
sponsored by the tobacco industry and warning videos on the dangers of
smoking should be displayed at the beginning of the movie and in the
cause of depiction of the smoking scene.
“The movie should show the harmful effects of smoking on health. Where
it is necessary to depict a smoking scene, the health of other persons
on set must be protected and also, such movies should have an age
rating.”
