The National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB) expressed concerns over the production of video content that does not promote national unity.

Speaking in Benin during a courtesy visit to the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Edo State Council, the Head of the NFVCB in Edo State, Fred Elakhe, said the board’s Executive Director, Dr. Shaibu Husseini, has zero tolerance for content that does not meet its guidelines.

He said with the influence of Nigerian movies and the influx of foreign cultural imports, censorship will continue to play an important role in promoting core community values such as the importance of family, respect for one’s elders, and moral integrity.

Elakhe, who noted that the board was moving from censorship to placing more emphasis on classification/category of movies and other video content, said it frowned on content featuring incidents of child abuse and child molestation.

While calling for synergy between the NUJ and the NFVCB in sanitising the film industry, Elakhe said the NFVCB is committed to ensuring the provisions of the NFVCB Act and any conditions related to their designated schedule are complied with.

He also called for the classification of movies with the use of symbols.

Some of the symbols he mentioned include “G” to indicate general exhibition, “C” to indicate intended particularly for children, “NC” to indicate not recommended for children, and “PG” for parental guidance.

Other symbols are “18” to indicate for mature audiences, “RE” to indicate for Restricted Exhibition, and such other classification as may be decided by the Board.

In his remark, the Chairman of the NUJ Edo State Council, Festus Alenkhe, pledged support for the board’s activities.

He emphasised the need to regulate certain video content, including skits capable of inciting violence and others that cast aspersions on high-profile individuals in society.