NEWS
NFVCB Moves to Halt Lagos Premiere of Controversial Movie ‘Living in Colors’
The National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB) has moved to stop the planned Lagos premiere of the movie Living in Colors following concerns over the content of the film and allegations that it promotes same-gender relationships.
The regulatory agency said it became aware of promotional materials announcing a media press call and premiere of the movie scheduled to take place this weekend at a cinema facility in Lagos.
According to the NFVCB, preliminary investigations carried out after reviewing the film’s trailer allegedly uncovered explicit material as well as content promoting same-gender relationships.
The development has prompted the Board to take steps to prevent the planned public exhibition, with the agency stressing that the movie has not been submitted for classification as required under Nigeria’s film and video regulations.
The NFVCB said it is working with federal and state security agencies to identify, disrupt and prevent the planned premiere from taking place.
The Board has also reached out to the management of the exhibition centre and other venue providers reportedly connected to the event, warning them of the consequences of hosting a film that has not received the required classification.
According to the agency, any venue that allows the exhibition of the unclassified movie risks being immediately sealed, while its operational licence could also be revoked. The Board’s intervention, however, goes beyond efforts to stop the premiere.
The NFVCB disclosed that legal proceedings are being initiated against Prism House Studio, alongside the individual producers and promoters associated with the movie.
It further warned content creators, cinema operators and distribution platforms against participating in the promotion, distribution or exhibition of the film.
The regulatory agency said its position is based on provisions of the NFVCB Act and the Same-gender Marriage (Prohibition) Act, which it said provide the legal framework for its actions.
The controversy comes only days before the movie is reportedly scheduled for release on YouTube on August 30, raising questions over whether the planned online distribution will also be affected by the regulatory action.
The NFVCB reiterated that it would continue to enforce Nigeria’s film and video content regulations and take steps against productions it considers to be in violation of the law.
The development has placed Living in Colors at the centre of a growing regulatory controversy, with attention now focused on whether its planned Lagos premiere and subsequent online 
release will go ahead.