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The National Film and Video Censor Board (NFVCB), filmmakers and other key players in the Nigerian film industry have called for effective and systematic implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) as it affects the cinema industry.
They made the call during a roundtable with film industry players on the AfCTA / Nigeria Office for Trade Negotiations (NOTN) hosted by the NFVCB on Saturday in Lagos.
Regulators, economic experts, as well as leaders of the various guilds / associations of the Nigerian film industry, known as Nollywood, were present at the event.
Executive director / CEO of the board, Alhaji Adedayo Thomas, said the forum was organized to address perceived challenges, concerns and suggestions that would form the basis of trade negotiations.
Thomas said that the opinions submitted by stakeholders have the potential to reshape the landscape of the film industry, as it is the stakeholder input that the board would incorporate for submission to NOTN for implementation.
He noted that stakeholders in the film industry must consider and adopt a national position in the negotiation, as the implementation of the AfCFTA will open new frontiers for the sector.
“The Council, as the regulator of the film industry, has attended meetings with the Nigerian Bureau of Trade Negotiations (NOTN) to extract input from relevant stakeholders to guide the country’s participation in the implementation. implementation of these protocols at the continental level.
“With respect to the entertainment industry, in our own case the film industry, we will look at the real and perceived challenges, concerns and suggestions that would form the basis of a national position in protocol negotiations.
“The board of directors under my leadership has made a point of engaging stakeholders on any issue relating to the film industry. This meeting should therefore lead to the position of the stakeholders to be integrated by the Council into the regulator’s point of view for submission to the NOTN.
“I challenge you, my colleagues, to fully walk through the dangers faced by piracy and to propose measures to complement the efforts of the board of directors to minimize it, the AfCFTA offering another challenge”, a- he declared.
Mr Andy Boyo, national boss, Actors Guild of Nigeria and chair of the roundtable, said that with AfCFTA, Nollywood would grow rapidly when it integrated with other African ‘woods’ into one. Giant “wood” possibly called “Afrowood”.
Boyo said that with all the “woods” coming together, investors from all different countries are more likely to invest because the market would be much larger.
He added that the films would then have a star lineup and be shown on TV channels across the continent, which would attract foreign direct investment.
“This will lead to more income generation and a high rate of return on investment for investors / producers as opposed to if the income comes from only one country,” he said.
Boyo, however, advised that Africa must develop its digital infrastructure to take advantage of the continent’s demographic resources such as Nigerian music and cinema, where there is already a sizable global presence.
The boss noted that regulating the activities of companies like Google and Facebook in the AfCFTA would give local alternatives a chance to thrive.
Peace Anyiam-Osigwe (MFR), national president of the Association of Film Producers (AMP), urged the federal government to put in place regulations that would protect the rights of filmmakers.
Anyiam, also founder of the Africa Movie Academic Awards (AMAA), said it was necessary because Nigerians generally face the problem of mistrust, prejudice and hostile economic policies from some other African countries.
“Film regulators must protect the film industry before the AfCFTA fully opens, point all lines and work out restrictions before the deal finally opens.
“The regulator must protect us like other African countries protect their actors, because if they don’t, it will kill the film industry,” she said.
Mr. Victor Okhai, National President of the Directors Guild of Nigeria (DGN), said that “AfCFTA is a great opportunity for the film industry because Nollywood offers services and products. “
Okhai added that in order for the industry to benefit from the deal, it would need to ensure it has visa-free entry to African countries for at least 90 days, 120 days or even nine months, depending on the. case.
He proposed that customs and immigration barriers be lifted across the continent’s borders, that filmmakers get temporary work permits, access to subsidies and subtle loans.
Okhai said intellectual property needs to be protected at all levels, while African countries need to improve their network infrastructure for easy and fast movement to and from other business destinations.
In addition, Mr. Patrick Lee, President of the Nigeria Cinema Exhibitors Association (CEAN) said that the emergence of the Uniaafrica S market has offered doors to further present Nigerian films to the world.
However, he called on the relevant authorities to ensure that all denials are made in the best interest of the national film industry deemed to be the largest in Africa and the second on the world stage.
The AfCFTA, with its secretariat in Accra, Ghana, is a free trade area created by the African Continental Free Trade Agreement between 54 of the 55 countries of the African Union (AU).
The free trade area is renowned for being the largest in the world in terms of the number of participating countries since the formation of the World Trade Organization.
The main objectives of the AfCFTA are to create a continental market for goods and services with the free movement of people and capital and to pave the way for the creation of a customs union.
It is planned to develop intra-African trade through better harmonization and coordination of trade liberalization across the continent.
According to the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), the AfCFTA is expected to increase intra-African trade by up to 52% by 2022.
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