The National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB) and the Lagos State Film and Video Censors Board (LSFVCB) have signed an understanding to monitor and enforce movie classification and licensing.

This is contained in a statement issued by Mike Ekunno, the acting Head, Public Affairs, NFVCB, and made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Abuja.

According to the statement, “the days of unwholesome practices in the movie industry within Lagos, a major hub of the sector are numbered.”

“So, the Federal movie industry regulator, NFVCB and the authority in Lagos,” the statement revealed, “will join forces to curb breaches and inject sanity to make for a more structured and organised industry.

“The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) also involves sharing information and data to aid full compliance by all cadres of industry practitioners.

“Key highlights of the MOU include joint preview and censorship of movies within Lagos state with separate monitoring but combined enforcement activities.

“The understanding also provides that movies meant for the Lagos environment must carry seals of both agencies.”

The statement quoted the Director General of the NFVCB, Mrs. Patricia Bala as describing the move as a sure-footed resolve to forge a firm and integrated design to attain the goal of well structured movie industry.

Bala expressed the hope that with the careful and meticulous effort put into the arrangement, all industry operators should support and key into it by ensuring that only approved movies were released to the market.

She lamented the damaging effects of unwholesome practices and also called on operators to act within the ambit of the law.

She said that enforcement became necessary only in a situation of non-compliance.

She urged industry stakeholders to be more broad-minded rather than pursuing narrow interests that affect the growth and development of the industry.

The NFVCB boss reiterated the commitment of the agency to be fair and just in the discharge of its mandate.

The statement said that the Executive Director, Lagos State Film and Video Censors Board, Mr. Bamidele Balogun expressed delight at the signing of the MOU.

He noted that it was a courageous decision to eliminate frictions and ensure harmony of purpose toward proper regulation and sanitisation of the film industry in Lagos state.

Bamidele explained that the initiative became necessary in response to persistent demand by stakeholders for a comprehensive approach to implementing the common mandate of movie regulatory agencies at federal and state levels.

Mr. Musa Sandal, the Director of Legal Services in the Federal Ministry of Information, who facilitated the review and approval of the MOU by both the federal ministries of justice and information, praised the initiative.

Also, Mrs. Chinwe Okonkwo of the Nigeria Film Corporation, expressed optimism that the initiative would achieve the desired result of stimulating further growth and development of the industry.

“This initiative it will enhance in curbing unwholesome activities within Lagos which is a major hub of the nation’s movie market.” (NAN)

•Photo shows NFVCB DG, Patricia Bala.