Confusion in Kano over fate of film village

No sooner as the Federal Government proposed the establishment of a multi-dimensional film village in Bebeji, Kano, than the project was cancelled following concerns raised by Muslim clerics. There were reactions from players in the film industry. When news that the Federal Government of Nigeria had set aside N3billion for the construction of an ultra-modern […]

No sooner as the Federal Government proposed the establishment of a multi-dimensional film village in Bebeji, Kano, than the project was cancelled following concerns raised by Muslim clerics. There were reactions from players in the film industry.

When news that the Federal Government of Nigeria had set aside N3billion for the construction of an ultra-modern film village that will provide over 10,000 jobs and also increase revenue generation broke, it was greeted with jubilation.
The film village to be sited in Kano would include a 400-capacity auditorium for skill acquisition training, a cinematography centre, sound stage, hostel, eatery block, hotels, shopping mall, a stadium, and a clinic among other amenities.
During the stakeholder’s interactive session on the construction of the film village named after President Muhammadu Buhari, many influential personalities lay claim to bringing the project to the state.
During the session, the Managing Director, Nigerian Film Corporation, (NFC), Danjuma Wurim Dadu said that the project was scheduled to be completed in three phases adding that the Federal Government had already put aside N1billion for the commencement of the first phase.
The choice of Kano State as the site for the project was thought to have been influenced by the fact that the state has been the nerve centre of movie production in the northern part of the country. But later, religious scholars in the state argued that siting the film village in Kano negated religious and cultural values of the people.
However, shortly thereafter, the Special Adviser to President Buhari on National Assembly Matters, Honourable Kawu Sumaila, announced that the proposed film village was not originally contained in the 2016 budget and that its inclusion was the handiwork of the then Chairman, House Committee on Appropriation, Honourable Abdulmuminu Jibrin Kofa.
This pronouncement was interpreted by the public as a cancellation of the project. However, Sumaila speaking at the stakeholder’s interactive session said, “The Hausa movie industry has indeed played a very vital role in the actualization of this government and the establishment of this film village as contained in the approved budget is a way of Mr. President’s appreciation.”
An international analyst, Othman Omar, said “If Kano State is rejecting this because of religious reasons then, hear this. Saudi Arabia has 30 film companies and operates cinema houses. ‘Keif al-Hal’ was a film released in 2006, which was billed as Saudi Arabia’s first film. However, it was shot in the United Arab Emirates and the lead female was played by a Jordanian. The 2012 film ‘Wadjda’ had an all-Saudi cast and was the first feature film shot entirely in Saudi Arabia. Those against the film industry are doing it out of their narrow understanding of Islam based on extremist tendencies and ignorance. It is truly sad should President Muhammadu Buhari listen to Kano clerics to cancel the film village.”
Another entertainment analyst, Umar Hassan Kabir said, the reason given for the rejection are not genuine adding that what Kano stands to gain from the project was immeasurable and people will regret should the project be revoked.
For Jibril Ishaq, a Kano-based business man, what the state needs is not a film village but a decent and realistic investment that will ensure real employment opportunities not mere imaginary temporary engagement adding that for him siting of film village in Kano meant nothing.
According to the secretary, the Kano chapter of Motion Pictures Practitioners Association of Nigeria, (MOPPAN), Salisu Muhammed Officer, members of the Hausa movie industry were elated at the news of the development and sad at the speculation making the rounds that the project was cancelled.
“It is unfortunate that people still do not understand what the movie industry does. However, as far as we are concerned, the cancellation of the project remains a rumour to us. It is indeed sad that people chose to castigate the industry based on assumptions,” he said.
Similarly, National Chairman of the Harmonized Trade Unions, Bature Abdulaziz, stated that there was need for the ulamas, the state government and all other stakeholders to sit down and to discuss the issue before taking any decisive decision on it.
However, when contacted, the Director General, Kano State Censorship Board, Malam Isma’ila Naabba, stated that the board wasn’t communicated formally on the said cancellation of the film village project. According to him, the board was formally communicated when the siting of the project was adopted and therefore it is expected that if it has been cancelled the board will equally be notified formally.