KANO'S CENSORSHIP LAWS

PRESS BRIEFING BY DIRECTOR GENERAL KANO STATE CENSORSHIP BOARD, MAL. ABUBAKAR RABO ABDULKAREEM, ON THE EXPIRATION OF SIX MONTHS BAN ON FILM LOCATION ACTIVITIES HELD ON MONDAY 11TH FEBRUARY, 2008 AT THE CONFERENCE ROOM OF THE BOARD

Distinguished guests,
Gentlemen of the press.

1. Further to the unfortunate happenings in the film industry, His Excellency Executive Governor of Kano State, Malam Ibrahim Shekarau, has approved the appointment of a task force committee to sanitize, standardize and professionalize the film industry in the state.

2. This unfortunate incidence led to public outcry which resulted in the lost of public confidence in the film industry, followed by suspension of all location activities for three months by motion Picture Practitioners Association of Nigeria (MOPPAN) and subsequent endorsement by the Board.

3. To compliment stakeholders’ position, the Board extended the three-month suspension order to six months for the purpose of fulfilling certain Herculean challenges facing the industry, Board inclusive.

The suspension order was clearly on location activities unlike what was speculated that it was meant to jeopardize the film industry. Marketers, production and post-production companies, musical studios and other activities were not affected by the order. More so, the Board has responded to various appeals made by organizations that have a stake in its activities to revisit the issue of censoring films already completed before the unfortunate incidence.

4. Accordingly, this is not the first time filming activities were suspended in Kano State. In the year 2000 the then administration suspended filming activities without any exception, even cinema houses were affected. Another example is that of Lagos State where filming activities were suspended for two years in order to ensure ethical professionalism in the business.

It is professionally a tradition and globally accepted; sensitivities are never compromised in filming projects. Currently, China is a clear testimony where a prominent production company was duly punished and suspended from further filming.

5. Gentlemen of the press, I want make it categorically clear that religion, culture and public dignity cannot be compromised by any good Government in the name of economic interest persuaded by certain segment of the society, taking into cognizance the social responsibility being entrusted by our people to this administration which operates within the tenets of Shari’a legal system.

6. Special guests, gentlemen of the press, within this suspension period the Board through its open door policy has tried to bring stakeholders on board through various activities such as meetings, sensitisation seminar, consultations with other relevant government agencies and revalidation /registration exercise.

7. The ideal registration period of the Board is first two weeks of the month of January of every year. Therefore, we want to notify the public that, some of our stakeholders have responded positively e.g. cinema proprietors, soccer viewing center proprietors, CD sellers, and some production companies. But in order to be lenient to our teaming stakeholders the Board has magnanimously from last week extended the registration period to the end of first quarter of 2008. This extension is peculiar to the year 2008. Meanwhile, provisional license is under processing for those production companies that are about and are determined to fulfill requirements.

8. General requirements and guidelines for registration were reflected in the Board’s application Forms and didn't in any way undermine ethics, professionalism, Religion and culture of our people. Hitherto, in respect to this, I would like to make it abundantly clear that every individual operator MUST register and be issued with license to operate, be it an artiste, script writer, designer, director, producer and other related persons in the home video as provided by Section 8 sub-section 'B' of the Kano State Censorship Board Law 2001 (Guidelines attached).
Meanwhile, trade guilds must register with the Board after being recognised by the MOPICON code of ethics.

9. Registration of production companies as enshrined in the Kano State Censorship Board law is mandatory before operation or any transaction with them.

10. Scripts must be submitted by a certified and registered production company for the Board’s approval which will facilitate the document to be recognized by other authorities like Copyright Commission, etc.

Equally, approved script will not be filmed until location/outing schedules are endorsed by the Board. At this juncture I want to draw the attention of Hoteliers, agencies and individuals to note that, henceforth, no location activity will take place in their premises without clearance from the Board.

Gentlemen of the press, we are using this medium to warn that, it is a breach of law for any production company to embark on shooting/location activities without his script and schedule of outing being approved by the Board.

11. Important issues worth noting primarily to our teaming stakeholders are thus:¬

a. Submission of scripts will be through guild of script writers, MOPPAN or individuals as the case may be.

b. Submission of accomplished films will be through MOPPAN, Film Makers Associations or individuals as the case may be.

c. To facilitate the activities of the preview committee, the Board has decided to expand the membership of the committee by involving Kano State Film Makers Association as members to serve in the committee

d. All our stakeholders are equal in the eyes of the law provided they remain law abiding.

e. Stakeholders dealing with international organisations and corporate bodies should note that, Board has moral and legal status in that transactions as provided in Section 85 of Kano State Cinematography licensing Censorship regulations 2001.

At this juncture, I am happy to announce to our teaming stakeholders and the general public that the ban on location activities is hereby lifted with effect from Tuesday 12th February 2008 on the following conditions:

All film operators and related persons must register with the Board and be issued with license as enshrined in the Kano State Censorship Board Law 2001 Section 6 sub-section 1B to ensure maximum control:

a. All Film corporate bodies and companies/professional guilds and associations must register with the Board as provided by Kano State Censorship Board law 2001.

b. All production scripts and outing schedules must be approved by the Board before any location activities.

c. All production must not jeopardize the sensitivities of the general public thus religion, culture, law, state and ethics of the profession. Hitherto, public are rest assured of protecting their dignity in Hausa films.

d. Any film that features non-registered artiste/artistes by the Board will not be cleared.

e. The proliferation of Hausa musical albums has attracted the Board's attention, hence must be censored. Therefore lyricists and musicians are equally to register like the rest of our stakeholders.

These conditions go along with the law establishing the Board and the regulations conducting the affairs of the Board.

Thanks you and God bless.

BISSALAM

GENERAL GUIDELINES FOR GENERAL REGISTRATION OF FILM OPERATORS (INDIVIDUAL IN THE FILM PRODUCTION)

1. A film operative must possess "O" Level Certificate or its equivalent (Additional qualification is and added advantage)

2. Director/Producer must possess a Diploma or Certificate in the field of production from a recognized institution.

3. A film operative must avoid any act capable of polluting public morals.

4. A film operative must observed and respect religion, Culture and public interest.

5. A film operative must be a registered member of an appropriate guild.

6. A film operative must be a Nigerian as stipulated in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

7. Female artiste, musician and lyricist must be under the care of her husband, parent or guardian (Not independent as the case may be)

8. Director/producer must ensure friendly atmosphere and should avoid roles/acts that will tarnish the image of his artistes.

9. Director must be guided by the approved script throughout his production

10. Producer must ensure that his script is endorsed by recognised consultant and approved by the Board.

11. A producer must ensure professional equipment are used (broadcasting standard) in his production.

12. Notice for location activities must be submitted to the Board 48 hours before the outing.

13. Singing and dancing has been cancelled in Hausa films.

14. Producer must discourage free mingling of opposite sexes for the whole night during production.

15. An artiste must be mentally and of sound moral behavior.

15. An artiste must not be below 18 years old, special artistes exclusive.

16. These guidelines are subject to review depending on prevailing circumstance.

GUIDELINES FOR THE REGISTRATION OF FILM PRODUCTION COMPANIES

1. Certificate of Incorporation (CAC)

2. Tax clearance for 3 years.

3. Letter of introduction from the Local Government Council where the production company is situated.

4. Production company shall employ the service of a film/video production consultant.

a) Such consultant shall be qualified from a recognised film institute within Nigeria or abroad.
b) Such consultant shall have a working experience of not less than 4 years in the field of production.
c) Employment: means part-time/retainership.

5. All film production companies shall furnish their studios with all the necessary facilities in accordance with the broadcasting standard or its equivalent, thus:

a) A set of computer
b) Pinnacle editing system
c) Monitors
d) A VCR player
e) HD camera with accessories or professional digital camera.
f) Two sets of earphone/microphone
g) Tripod/crane
h) Professional lights

6. Production company shall ensure that all technical production crew are registered members of a professional association of Nigeria (MOPP AN).

7. Production company shall have a clear office identification address.

8. Production company must have a permanent office secretary.

9. Production company must register with Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Co-operatives, Kano.

10. Production company must ensure crowd-free office environment.

11. Henceforth, no producer will go to location for activities without his script being vetted by a recognised consultant and approved by the Board.

12. All members of the production crew shall have a minimum qualification of a Diploma /Certificate or equivalent in a related field from a recognized institution.

13. Production company shall have a minimum of N2.5 million as working capital. Confirmation could be obtained from bank.

14. Henceforth, the Board has cancelled singing and dancing in Hausa film.

15. The aforementioned guidelines are subject to review, depending on monitoring circumstances.