Hanatu Musawa, Minister of Arts, Culture, and the Creative Economy has approved a licensing waiver for investors looking to open cottage or community cinemas in Nigeria.
Dr. Shaibu Husseini, executive director of the National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB), announced during a stakeholder meeting in Lafia, Nasarawa State, on Friday, September 27.
Dr Husseini believes that the waiver is consistent with President Bola Tinubu’s aim of improving the business environment for individuals and organizations in the creative industry.
The NFVCB CEO emphasized that the waiver is part of Musawa’s larger initiative to encourage investment in the creative industry. He noted that the program intends to increase cash creation for both the government and filmmakers while also creating work possibilities for young people around the country.
According to Husseini, the licensing waiver is expected to have a profound multiplier effect on the lower tiers of the cinema exhibitor sector, fueling the expansion of cinema screens and promoting a wider screening of Nollywood films at local box offices.
The NFVCB has already granted provisional approval to an investor to test-run a community cinema project for 12 months, following the minister’s waiver approval.
Husseini urged stakeholders to consider the potential of community cinemas, referencing successful examples from countries like India, where small-scale cinemas coexist with larger venues, enhancing the cinematic experience for diverse audiences.
The executive director also disclosed that after aggregating stakeholder demands, the NFVCB sought and received the minister’s approval for the waiver on the same day.
Additionally, the board has submitted a proposal to reduce exhibition and distribution license fees for operators, aimed at further opening up the industry to new investments.
Husseini described these policies as strategic moves by Musawa to reignite growth in the sector. He noted that the minister has given the NFVCB the green light to introduce a series of reforms to revitalise the film industry.
Among these reforms, the reduction in classification time for films and video works has already been implemented.
“We have shortened the classification process to a maximum of 48 hours for full-length feature films and offer same-day classification for short content like skits and music videos,” Husseini explained.
The NFVCB has also introduced online submissions to streamline the process for filmmakers and content creators.
Husseini reiterated the importance of filmmakers submitting their works for classification before exhibition, whether on traditional or digital platforms, emphasising that the board remains committed to supporting the growth of the Nigerian film industry through these reforms.
