The federal government has announced it looking to make the creative industry more “Made in Nigeria” by taking steps that discourages the production of Nigerian movies and music outside the country.
Films looking to take similar patterns like Lost in London starring Imeh Bishop Umoh and American Visa could be affected when plans come into place, but the booming music industry is likely to be more affected.
The news infiltrated P-Sqaure’s Paul Okoye and his brother Jude whose music videos are often shot outside the country mainly in South Africa.
Lai Mohamed, Nigeria’s Information Minister representing FG said:
“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.”
“It is like somebody going to China or Japan to make a product that looks like palm wine and bring it back home to label it Nigerian palm wine.”
Lai will meet with the industry’s stakeholders urgently to discuss amendments that are needed to bring Broadcasting Code in line with aims.
As pointed out by Paul Okoye, the FG has rarely helped the industry in the phenomenal growth it is experiencing, but Lai stressed the diversification of the economy is to make creative industry viable, dynamic and sustainable.
