The National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB) has announced it will not classify the film originally titled Badagry: I Bad, I Gree following widespread backlash over what critics say is a misrepresentation of one of Nigeria’s most culturally significant towns.
Produced by Akogun Multimedia Production and directed by Davison Izeaghegbe, with Destiny Austine Omon as producer and assistant director, the movie features stars like Alex Osifo, Yemi Blaq and Jude Orhorha. It was initially scheduled for release on Friday before controversy erupted.
In a Facebook post on Friday, NFVCB executive director Dr Shaibu Husseini said the board had received complaints from filmmakers, cultural stakeholders and concerned citizens over the film’s title and themes.
He wrote: “RE: FILM TITLED ‘BADAGRY: I BAD, I AGREE.’ The National Film and Video Censors Board – NFVCB has rightly intervened and we are on top of the matter. We would like to reiterate that we remain committed as the regulatory body of the Nigeria Film Industry to ensure that any films/video works, musical videos or dramatized/short content that will encourage religious, cultural or ethnic discrimination or conflict, undermine national security or likely to incite or encourage public disorder are not given approval and if released without approval, the appropriate sanctions of the law will be meted out to the producer.”
He continued: “The Board remains committed to ensuring that films/video works, musical videos or dramatized/short content released, distributed and exhibited are in line with the provisions of the National Film and Video Censors Board Act 2004 (as amended) and Regulations. We assure members of Ogu General Assembly and several esteemed stakeholders including Dudu Baba, Segun Arinze that have written and called to complain that the movie will not be released with that title and that the movie will not be premiered or released if the other concerns raised by our review panel are not addressed.”
Veteran filmmaker Tunde Alabi-Hundeyin was one of those who spoke out against the title of the film. His reaction was shared by Lagos State Police public relations officer, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, on his verified X page.
The post read: “Dead on arrival! My attention was drawn to the ugly title of the film below. At first, I thought it was a prank. Then I started seeing it as a sponsored promo. I can’t believe one creatively shallow producer will just sit somewhere and choose to malign the image and dignity of one of the most historically precious pieces of land on the continent of Africa. A serene land of peace which had spread its mat of welcome to people from all over the globe.”
He said instead of heading to court or petitioning the authorities formally, he chose to contact the NFVCB boss directly.
“He immediately gave me a cheering news that a group of nine people from Badagry had submitted a petition on the film title to his office. I didn’t ask who they were, but whoever they are, I am proud of them as protectors of Badagry’s image,” he said.
Alabi-Hundeyin said Dr Husseini promptly reached out to the producers, who claimed they titled the film Badagry: I Bad, I Gree because it was shot in Badagry.
“What a very unprofessional excuse,” he said.
He recalled a similar case involving the misuse of the revered Eyo masquerade in the movie Gangs of Lagos, noting that the industry should learn from past mistakes. He praised the DG’s swift action, saying, “He immediately took the decision that the classification, which must precede release, scheduled for tomorrow, 4th July, is cancelled.”
Alabi-Hundeyin added that unless the producers changed the title, the film should not be released in Nigeria, arguing that the storyline had nothing to do with Badagry.
“Pa Olatunji from Ajido is the first Nigerian to win the Grammy. My humble self is the youngest Nigerian to direct a film on Celluloid at age 30, 42 years ago,” he added, highlighting the town’s contributions to Nigerian culture.
He stressed that filmmakers are welcome to shoot in Badagry but must respect the town’s legacy and not distort its image for commercial gain.
The Ogu General Assembly (OGA), the apex body representing the Ogu people, also issued a strong statement against the film, describing it as a blatant misrepresentation of Badagry and the Ogu identity.
The group said: “The title already depicts our much-cherished cultural hometown, the historical city of Badagry, and indeed, the Ogu people, in a very negative light. It disparages not just our land as a collective patrimony, but also misrepresents us as an ethnic nationality and hurts the sensibilities of our people very badly.”
The OGA also condemned the imagery in the movie’s promotional material.
“The use of guns, cult imagery, and gangster aesthetics portrayed in the film poster falsely associates Badagry with violence and criminality, an identity the community strongly rejects,” the group said. “We do not in any way want our land and our people to be depicted in this dishonourable light in popular culture and in the popular imaginations of Nigerians and the world at large.”
In response to the controversy, the film’s producer Destiny Omon issued a public apology and confirmed that the title of the film had been changed to I Bad.
In a press release issued on Friday, Omon said: “We acknowledge the emotional and cultural significance of the name Badagry and sincerely apologise to the people of the town, city, and tribe for any distress or misinterpretation the former title may have caused.”
He clarified that the creative direction of the film was never intended to reference or depict the realities of Badagry or its people.
“The storyline is a fictional narrative exploring personal identity and societal struggles, without any link to a specific community, ethnic group, or geographical location,” he said.
Omon added: “We want to reassure the public—especially the people of Badagry—that the film’s storyline, characters, and themes bear no connection to their community, history, or values.”
He thanked the public for their feedback, calling it “constructive” and instrumental in correcting the project’s course. He also reaffirmed the team’s commitment to responsible storytelling and cultural sensitivity.
Meanwhile, the steering committee of the apex body of the Ogun people, in a statement signed by convener Prof Jendele Hungbo and secretary Mr Hosu Mewhenu, expressed deep concern over the film and applauded the NFVCB’s intervention.
