The National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB) has approved and classified 304 films between January and April 2026, reflecting increased activities in Nigeria’s film industry and rising local content production.

Director of Film Censorship and Classification at the board, Deborah Malgwi, disclosed this yesterday in a statement, noting that the figure represented an increase from the 267 films classified during the same period in 2025.

According to the classification data released by the board, January 2026 recorded the highest number of approvals with 102 films, followed by 83 in February, 77 in March and 42 in April.

In comparison, the board classified 25 films in January 2025, 58 in February, 114 in March and 70 in April of the same year.

The statistics also showed that English-language productions dominated the industry with 201 films classified within the period under review.

Igbo-language productions accounted for 44 films, while Yoruba recorded 42. Hindi films stood at nine, Hausa productions accounted for five, while Bini-language films recorded three classifications.

Further analysis indicated that most productions fell within the “15” and “18” age categories, reflecting prevailing themes in contemporary film productions.

The board disclosed that 10 films received “G” ratings, 16 were classified as “PG”, while 18 films fell within the “12/12A” category.

It added that 157 films received “15” ratings, while 103 films were classified under the “18” category.

Malgwi said the agency remained committed to promoting responsible storytelling, professionalism and the sustainable growth of the Nigerian film industry in line with national values and international best practices.

She noted that the increase in film classification activities highlighted the resilience and expanding capacity of Nigeria’s creative industry, particularly in local content production and distribution.

The director also stressed that film classification remained an important regulatory mechanism aimed at protecting children and vulnerable audiences from unsuitable content, while providing guidance to parents, guardians and viewers.

She commended filmmakers, producers and other stakeholders for their continued cooperation and compliance with the board’s regulatory framework.