Nigerian entertainers condemn proposed ban on foreign production

Nigerian entertainers have continued to react to plan by the Federal Government to discourage the production of Nigerian movies and music outside the shore of the country.

Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, announced the plan on Saturday in Lagos when he paid a visit to the headquarters of the Copyright Society of Nigeria (COSON).

“This government has agreed that henceforth, whatever we consume in Nigeria in terms of music and films must be made in Nigeria.

“We cannot continue to go to South Africa or any other country to produce our films and then send them back to be consumed in Nigeria.

“The Broadcasting Code and the Advertising Code are very clear on this. “For you to classify a product as a Nigerian product, it must have a certain percentage of Nigerian content,” he said.

Nigerian entertainers have, however, taken to social media to speak out on the matter.

Some even attacked the minister directly.

Lai Mohammed seeking relevance in the wrong way. You and your government have failed our people with your countless demising moves. Smh

— High St?R (@Yung6ix) July 18, 2017

Politicians should be stoned when making such a speech, I trust Nigeria is getting to that level. You are ruling people not statues

— High St?R (@Yung6ix) July 18, 2017

Dear Sir lai mohammed please address us and let the world know where your family members are currently studying. Justify your wicked acts.

— High St?R (@Yung6ix) July 18, 2017

But we can go to other countries to beg for loans that do not get used to better the lives of Nigerians #MinisterFaceYourWork pic.twitter.com/9OOpp6Mp66

— ? Ruggedman (@RuggedyBaba) July 16, 2017

Dear FG, for your information! All the Shame way una dey bring for dis our country na we dey entertainers dey cover una Nash! Ndi ala #SMH

— Peter Okoye MrP (@PeterPsquare) July 16, 2017

Sometimes am ashamed to be called a Nigerian because this people? Tufia kwa?? Another Nationality Loading…… ??????????????????#shame

— Peter Okoye MrP (@PeterPsquare) July 16, 2017

Undoubtedly,entertainment: Music,Comedy,Sport, and Film productions are the highest-ranking human resource export from Nigeria.Government should protect their intellectual property and invest into its capacity building. I have observed with keen interest the recent reports credited to the honourable minister of information and culture,proposing to ban the production of our indigenous films abroad.instead of such pronouncements,I expect a mutual partnership with government and all stake holders in the entertainments industry.what level of support has government provided to growth of entertainment in terms of protecting their works?piracy is still on the high,most of the actors,actresses and producers do not earn what’s is obtainable in other parts of the world in terms of technical,social support and general contribution to their well being.I recommend that instead of putting laws to check the issue of films produced outside Nigeria.Government should invest in the sector to develop it,introduce partnership that will bring about government earning funds from the services provided through technical equipment, logistic sites, and establishment of a standard Nollywood village.more so soft loans should be provided to aid film production ,while the ministry of information and culture should engage the film writer and producers to build contents that can significantly profile our image as a country.instead of confrontation,which will not be in the best interest of both the government and the artistes.

A post shared by Amb, Francis Agoda (@igodye_) on Jul 18, 2017 at 1:04am PDT

Smh. An industry they NEVER encouraged, supported or empowered is what they now want to control. Let all of you stop running to abroad when you are sick as na naija money una dey use patronize oyibo hospital dem. You people are the ones refusing to fix our health facilities so u travel out when mosquito bite una. So why tell us where to record when u can’t provide uninterrupted power here in Nigeria. Sometime I wonder how we got it all wrong. Una children when dey sch for abroad na which money una dey use patronize them? Abeg stfu!

A post shared by jude okoye (@judeengees) on Jul 16, 2017 at 4:10am PDT

?

A post shared by Peter okoye Psquare (@peterpsquare) on Jul 16, 2017 at 5:58am PDT