Nollywood And Lagos State Government Set For A Showdown Over Plans By Lagos State Government To Subject Them To " Double Censorship".

Practitioners of the Nigerian motion picture industry called Nollywood have said that they will protest the recent decision by the Lagos State government to subject them to ‘”double censorship’’. The State government had through the Lagos State Film and Video Censors Board (LSFVCB) announced during the week that it would commence censorship and classification of ‘cinematographic works and songs exhibited within the state’ in line with its mandate as a regulatory agency. The Board said it would in addition register associations and practitioners in the film and music industry that are in the state. 

  But the practitioners said the decision by the state to censor films that have already been censored by the statutory federal government agency- The National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB) was ‘’unnecessary and was a decision that will inflict so much financial pains on the practitioners.’’ President of the Association of Movie Producers (AMP) Zik Zulu Okafor said that they had told the LSFVCB officials at a meeting that it would amount to ‘double jeopardy’ if practitioners would have to censor films with the NFVCB and then also pay to censor same film with the Lagos State government. 

  “I think all this talk about government creating the enabling environment for us to practice is all about playing to the gallery. Why would someone just wake up and subject us to double censorship? Isn’t the National Censors organ capable of censoring video works? Why must we return from Abuja and then subject the same film to another round of censorship? So are we going to be taking our films to all state censors board for vetting just incase they too decide to set up their own structure? I think it doesn’t make any sense at all’’ Okafor said. 

  The AMP President also said that they had advised the LSFVCB at a meeting to work out a shared arrangement with the NFVCB to avoid duplication of duties. ‘’We gave that advice so we don’t have to loose time and resources going around for Censorship. We gave them examples of South Africa and Ghana where Censorship is handled centrally by the Federal Boards. There are other things the Lagos Board can engage in, not subject us to double censorship’ Zulu said. 

  Reacting too, notable filmmaker Matthias Obahigbon described the attempt by the Lagos state government to commence censorship of films as an attempt to ‘’kill the industry’. He described the decision as ‘unsavory’ and ‘a monster that must not be allowed to see the light of the day’’. Although Obahiagbon acknowledged that the issue of censorship was on the concurrent, which allows the state government to also censor films, Obahiagbon observed that it would be justifiable for states to create such structures only when the NFVCB has failed in their responsibility. He said: ‘’for now they have not failed and so why ask us to censor in Abuja and then in Lagos. We have been crying that we have no funds to make good films and now the concern is to make us pay twice and much later pay 35 times since we have 36 states before we can exhibit our works. This policy is not only needless but we consider it injurious. Governor Fashola should find other roles for the needless Board and not to direct them to engage in double taxation’’

  But the LSFVCB said it wont back down on the decision to censor film and music works that will be exhibited in the state. Executive Secretary of LSFVCB, Mr. Bamidele Balogun explained that it has become imperative for the LSFVCB to commence the censorship and classification based on the concerns of some residents, particularly with regard to the content and production qualities of the films being produced and exhibited within the state. According to Balogun “as a body set up to superintend the film and music sector, it behooves us to address those issues so that things would be done properly.” 

  Balogun who explained that the agencies earlier agreement with the National Film and Video Censors Board to jointly censor and classify films has ‘expired and was no longer in force’’ further explained that the board had decided that any film meant for exhibition in the state which did not carry the seal of LSFVCB, would not only be confiscated, the outlet selling it would be sealed off. 

  “The agency had an agreement with the National Film and Video Censors Board to jointly censor and classify films. But the agreement has expired and is no longer in force. As a result of this development, the management of the LSFVCB has been meeting with associations and bodies within the film industry to apprise them of the development and to encourage them to register with the board. The reactions from them so far have been positive’’ Balogun said adding: ‘’any cinema that fails to register with the board will not be allowed to operate within the state. That is what the law says.’’

  Officials of the NFVCB have declined comment on the matter. But a top official of the board said the earlier agreement they had with the Lagos Board was for registration of video clubs and outlets and not for censorship of films. 

Culled from The Guardian online