The National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB) has announced that it cannot ban the controversial movie “Gangs of Lagos,” which has received backlash since its release on Amazon Prime Video. Alhaji Adedayo Thomas, Executive Director and CEO of the NFVCB, explained that the board currently has no legal authority to regulate content exhibited on online platforms.
Thomas shared his thoughts in a recent telephone conversation with Vanguard, stating that regulating online platforms presents numerous challenges, as it falls outside the board’s mandate. He questioned why people were calling on the Censors Board to take action when the movie was not being shown in cinemas or public spaces.
The NFVCB has submitted a bill to the National Assembly that seeks to empower the board to regulate online platforms and other exhibition spaces for movies. Thomas acknowledged the difficulty of regulating online content and reiterated that it is not part of the board’s current mandate.
This clarification comes after the Isale Eko Descendants’ Union (IDU) petitioned the Censors Board over the alleged defamation of their community and the Eyo masquerade in “Gangs of Lagos.”
The Lagos State Government has also criticized the film, calling it a cultural misrepresentation that portrays the state’s culture in a derogatory manner. Mrs. Uzamat Akinbile-Yussuf, Commissioner for Tourism, Arts, and Culture, stated that the Ministry, as the regulatory body and custodian of Lagos State’s culture, views the film as a mockery of the state’s heritage.
“Gangs of Lagos,” co-produced by Kemi Lala Akindoju and Jade Osiberu, was released on Amazon Prime Video on April 7. The film features an ensemble cast, including Tobi Bakare, Adesua Etomi-Wellington, Chike Osebuka, Chioma Chukwuka, Olarotimi Fakunle, Chioma Chukwuka, Bimbo Ademoye, Iyabo Ojo, Zlatan, Debo “Mr Maraconi” Adedayo, Yhemolee, Pasuma, Toyin Abraham, Tayo Faniran, Damilola Ogunsi, and Funke Williams, among others.
