NFVCB boss says COVID-19 has given board new direction

The National Film and Video Censor Board (NFVCB), says the COVID-19 pandemic has given the board new directions, in spite of the severe impacts of the pandemic on the entertainment industry.

Alhaji Adedayo Thomas, the Executive Director, NFVCB made this known in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Abuja.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has given us a new direction, in spite of all odd.

“We have been able to develop a new direction in our activities of monitoring, especially in terms of classification and censorship.

“We have introduced online, as we move closer and closer day by day with the support of the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, through the new global trend of technology.

\

“Though we still have challenges but we have increased drastically due to the capacity building we were able to give our staff before the pandemic.

“On monthly basis, we see ourselves on zoom, while those who are not working physically are assisting at home by monitoring,’’ he said.

Thomas commended the efforts of the Federal Government in curtailing the spread of the COVID-19 through drastic measures to protect citizens.

Thomas aid the government made provisions for a lot of palliatives for the entertainment industry to help or assist those who were affected.

“Some international stakeholders also provided us with some palliatives as well to reduce the hardship in the sector.

“Stakeholders meet all the time to fashion out solutions to every single problem that comes.

“Problems will come, issues will also come, but the ability to solve the problems and resolve the issues is most important,” he said.

NAN reports that the NFVCB, established in 1993, is a Federal Government body that regulates the films and video industry in Nigeria.

The Board is empowered by law to classify all films and videos whether imported or produced locally.

It is also the duty of the Board to register all films and video outlets across the country and to keep a register of such registered outlets.

The board also provides policy advisory support to the federal and state governments in conformance with global best practices.