Recently, stakeholders within the Nigerian film industry have voiced their worries about Netflix’s decision to scale back its production of Nigerian Originals. This has led to speculation that the streaming service might pull out of Nigeria altogether, similar to Amazon Prime’s exit last year. However, on December 4, 2024, Netflix firmly denied any intentions of withdrawing from the Nigerian market.
Prominent filmmaker Kunle Afolayan expressed his disappointment regarding these cutbacks during the ZUMA International Film Festival in Abuja. He mentioned that although his series, Anikulapo Seasons 2 and 3, had received approval and was already completed, the cancellation of other Nigerian Originals was rooted in insufficient Return on Investment (ROI).
Afolayan highlighted the hurdles faced by the Nigerian film sector, stressing that diminished investment could stall the growth and advancement of local productions.
Amb Queen Blessing Ebigieson, the National President of the Association of Movie Producers (AMP), also addressed the issue, refuting rumours of Netflix’s departure from Nigeria. She clarified that the streaming giant was merely scaling down its investment in response to lower patronage and subscription rates within the country. As a businesswoman, Ebigieson acknowledged the rationale behind Netflix’s actions.
“Netflix has not announced its exit from Nigeria. They have stated that they are reducing the number of projects they commission due to declining revenue. As a producer and head of the guild, I would prefer to see more projects approved, but I understand that it is a business decision. I would likely make the same choice if I were in their position,” Ebigieson explained.
She further indicated that Netflix might reduce its commissioning of new Nigerian Originals from 15 to 10 projects, considering the current market challenges.
“This is a straightforward business choice. As producers, we need to seek out other platforms and focus on establishing our own exhibitors and outlets within the film production ecosystem,” she added.
