Government should regulate importation of video films

This is because through movies, the youth learn of other people’s culture, language, ways of life, dressing and other positive attributes. All these have not only positively helped in inculcating the basic values of a given society in its young ones, but also helped to sustain such positive morals, values, and norms over time.This explains […]

This is because through movies, the youth learn of other people’s culture, language, ways of life, dressing and other positive attributes. All these have not only positively helped in inculcating the basic values of a given society in its young ones, but also helped to sustain such positive morals, values, and norms over time.
This explains why the federal government has continued to support the Nigerian movie industry through Nollywood. By so doing the federal government has consciously and unconsciously provided thousands of jobs for those Nigerian youths that are actively engaged in the movie industry as actors and actresses, producers, props, equipment loggers or directors.
Expectedly, Nigeria began to export its products while those same markets also sent theirs to us. That is why Ghanaian movies, commonly known as Gollywood, Indian movies, known as Bollywood, American movies, among others, are now commonly displayed for sale in most video outlets in Nigeria.
The influx of these foreign movies has no doubt led to competitions in various markets. As such, producers have employed different means to ensure good sales. To say the least, most movies for sale in video outlets are a complete disappointment as long as moral values and norms of the Nigerian society are concerned. In fact, most of these so-called movies do not qualify to be used at home and other decent places as they are nothing but pornographic movies. Most times, the actors and actresses are in competition to outdo one another in nudity and illicit acts.
Again, the storylines of such movies always leave much to be desired. The themes always revolve around love while the choice of words used in the shooting, as well as flamboyant and extravagant lifestyles of the characters are not in sync with reality.
All these have negatively affected youth behaviour and are contributing greatly to the rising cases of juvenile delinquency in the society today.
It is high time the government really took a firm stand against this affront and destruction of morals and values of our society. The Nigerian government has an agency saddled with the responsibility of regulating the activities of movie producers and marketers; it should do its job appropriately. There should be proper enforcement of the agency’s decisions. The time to act is now. A stitch in time, they say, saves nine.
Bello Mohammed, GDSS. Bwari, Abuja.