The movie Sugar Rush is back in cinemas across the country after being banned for a week by the National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB). The producer of the movie Jade Osiberu broke the new on her Instagram page on Thursday.

In the post, she thanked everyone, who reached out with love and support and also the NFVCB for helping in every way they could.

The Executive Director of the NFVCB, Adedayo Thomas, also issued a statement on the latest development via the agency’s official Twitter page. The movie was restored to the cinemas after the producers did their thorough handling and with proper care.

Sugar Rush is a 2019 Nigerian action comedy film written and directed by Kayode Kasum. Starring film stars such as Bimbo Ademoye, Omoni Oboli, Bisola Aiyeola and Adesua Etomi-Wellington and others, the movie had its theatrical release on December 25, 2019 and opened to mixed reviews from critics.

Despite the mixed reviews, the film became a box office success and was the fifth highest grossing Nigerian film for the year 2019; it has reportedly grossed about N160m since its release on Christmas Day, showing its wide acceptance among Nigerian cinema lovers.

The movie tells the story of the Sugar sisters, who discover $800,000. The financial crimes commission and the supposed owners of the money come for them but the money was lost. Now to save themselves, and get back their abducted mother they team up with two crime agents to re-steal the money from an affluent but dangerous man with supernatural powers.

On December 13, 2020, the Federal Government, through the National Film and Video Censors Board, (NFVCB) ordered cinemas to stop screening Sugar Rush. The decision stirred outrage in the Nigerian social media circles, with commentators hinting that the decision might not be unconnected with the film’s portrayal of EFCC as incompetent and ineffective.

Reacting to the outrage surrounding the suspension, the board of the NFVCB released a statement to clarify existing issues. The Executive Director of the NFVCB, Mr. Adedayo Thomas, took full responsibility for the final authorisation for the release of Sugar Rush, saying it had been hindered due to his preoccupation with existing responsibilities and not because some of the scenes were found to portray the RFCC.

“I, however, take responsibility for the gap in communication and the delay in granting final approval as the temporary approval given for the movie exhibition expired before we could release an official statement due to my preoccupation with extant responsibilities and a backlog of movies requiring approval as a result of the December rush. I am currently working with the distributor, producer, director and key actors to grant final approval for the resumed exhibition at cinemas.”

The NFVCB boss said the movie was given a temporary approval pending the classification and final approval of the movie, adding that period within which the temporary approval could be used had lapsed.

Also reacting to the development, Music star and actor, Olubankole Wellington popularly known as Banky W, assured he and his team are working towards reversal of the suspension of the movie.

Taking to Twitter & Instagram, Banky W wrote in part: “If you saw @sugarrushmovie and loved it, or if you planned to, please read our statements. We are very hopeful and optimistic that the film will be back on screens in a few days, so please don’t give up on us, and please stay optimistic with us. Your love and support mean the world to us. Thank you to NFVCB for helping us rectify any issues. Please stay tuned; by God’s grace you will see our film again very soon. Please stay positive people!! Love you all.”