Nigeria’s National Film Video & Censors Board (NFVCB) has announced new plans to pass a non-smoking law in Nollywood movies.
NFVCB executive director, Adedayo Thomas made the revelation during an entertainment industry stakeholders roundtable in Lagos.
Mr. Adedayo revealed that the board’s latest move follows increasing concerns about growing evidence linking the entertainment industry with the increasing use of tobacco and its impact on public health, a concern mutually shared by the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture.
“Stakeholders observed that smoking in movies and the entertainment sector is a pathway to young people embracing smoking.
The tobacco industry uses a sophisticated marketing mix to promote smoking on set and in the entertainment sector.
“Entertainment stakeholders are deliberately targeted by the tobacco industry either through financial inducement, misinformation, and other subtle approaches to further glamorize smoking in the entertainment sector," the board executive said.
READ ALSO: Socrates, Gloria Sarfo unhappy about rebranding of Ghana movie industry
Mr Adedayo Thomas said the existing national legislation does not sufficiently capture the emerging alternative products of tobacco, such as E-cigarettes, Shisha, among others.
He advised the National Assembly, Ministry of Health, and other relevant authorities to involve the movie industry players in their engagement so as to be on the same page in the implementation of the legislation.
Adedayo further revealed that the board will toughen awareness among film stakeholders as it moves to enforce the non- classification of Nollywood movies depicting the use of tobacco.