The National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB) on Friday raided
the popular Wuse market in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and
seized large numbers of uncensored and unclassified films.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the operation was led
by the Executive Director of the board, Mr Adedayo Thomas, in
collaboration with the men of the Nigeria Police.
The films seized include “20 in 1 video films”, unclassified foreign
and local films, as well as pornographic materials, and one suspect was
arrested in the operation.
According, to Thomas, the operation is part of the zero-tolerance
stand of the board against illegal films and to ensure that owners of
films and video works get value from their investments.
“The board has scaled up its enforcement activities for the remaining
parts of the year, and this is the beginning of our raids in markets
across the FCT and then to the north.
“There is no doubt that these items worth market value huge amount of
money, and this will serve as deterrent and also prevent such illegal
products from selling in the market at the expense of genuine ones.
“President Buhari has declared a total war against corruption, and in
line with that, the boards has intensified its fight against the sale
of unwholesome films in the Nigeria market,” he said.
Thomas explained that the board had lined up nationwide raid against
uncensored and pirated films to ensure that such products were
completely removed from the movie market.
He explained that the choice of Wuse market was strategic, as it was
the receiving points of such pirated films from Lagos and other parts,
from where they are distributed to the Northern part of the country.
He added that the board had received intelligence and decided to
proceed on the operations, adding that the raid will be extended to
other markets within the Territory.
The Chairman of the Film and Videos Producers and Marketers of
Nigeria (FVPMAN), Mr Emeka Aduah, who accompanied the NFVCB raid team to
the market, lauded the move by the board.
He stressed that the producers and marketers were ready to work in
collaboration with the board, especially on providing information about
the activities of pirates.
NAN recalls that the board had earlier carried out such raid in Alaba
International Market, Benin City, Kaduna and other parts of the country
as part of its operations for last quarter of the year.(NAN)