The First Batch Of Licensees Of The National Film And Video Censors’ Board For The New Distribution

The first batch of licensees of the National Film and Video Censors’ Board for the new distribution framework schemes will receive their license in a ceremony which will be chaired by the Honourable Minister of Information and Communications come April, 21. The new frame work, according to the Director General of NFVCB, Mr. Emeka Mba, is meant to provide a platform for the future growth of the industry as well as ensure a faster move from censorship to classification which will make the industry more accountable and responsible. The board will also organize a series of master class training for licensed distributors and exhibitors thereby making it possible for Nigerians in the Movies International Business Road Show to move to more countries in Africa in the course of the year. As part of the licensing requirements for the National film/video distributor, the Board said it is desirous of seeing credible players who have or can show the capacity to undertake the task of distributing films across Nigeria, and therefore driving growth in the film industry. It therefore required all intending national film distributors to show evidence of seriousness or financial capability to the tune of N30 million either individually or as a group. The evidence can be in assets, equipment, etc, failing that the intending licensee must produce an insurance bond for the remainder of the amount or the whole N30 million. In line with the recent appeals by marketers over the recapitalization fees, Mba pointed out that steps are being taken to waive the registration fees, andslash by over 500 per cent, the licensing fees for all existing players as well as a reduction of the insurance requirements. In the revised framework, Mba said, "all existing marketers and distributors are required to pay only N40, 000 per annum, for a five-year license for the National Distributors license. The new concessions also affect all tiers of the licensing framework, including regional, state and community retailers." He debunked that not at any time were licensee to pay N50 million or N30 million as have been rumoured. The NFVCB requires all individuals and businesses that have obtained the application forms and are yet to fill and return them to the offices of National Film and Video Censors Board to do so before the close of work on Friday, March 21, 2008 while also calling on individuals and organizations desirous of doing the business of distribution in the film and video sector to take advantage of the existing window and buy the forms in any branch of Diamond Bank, the AO&A Consults at 11, Oba Akinjobi Street, GRA, Ikeja; or at any office of the Board nationwide.