The National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB) says it is working with security agencies to halt the planned media event and premiere of Living in Colors in Lagos, declaring the film unclassified and therefore unlawful for public exhibition.
The Board said it became aware of promotional materials, including a poster and trailer circulating online, for an event titled “Media Press Call and Movie Premiere of Living in Colours,” scheduled to take place this weekend at a cinema facility in Lagos.
In a statement, the NFVCB said preliminary investigations found that the film’s trailer contains what it described as “explicit pornography” and content promoting same-sex relationships.
According to the Board, the film has not been submitted for review, vetted or classified by the NFVCB. It therefore considers any public exhibition or promotion of the production a violation of applicable Nigerian laws.
“Consequently, the Board is collaborating with federal and state security agencies to track down, disrupt, and halt the planned press call and premiere event at the designated venue,” the NFVCB said.
The Board added that it had contacted the cinema management and other potential venue providers, warning them against hosting the event.
It further warned that venues found hosting the unclassified production could face enforcement measures, including closure and revocation of their operating licences.
The NFVCB also disclosed that it is initiating legal proceedings against the production company, producers, and promoters associated with the film.
The Board said the legal action is being pursued under the NFVCB Act and the Same-Sex Marriage (Prohibition) Act, which it said provide grounds for action against the public exhibition or distribution of unclassified or prohibited content.
The NFVCB reiterated its commitment to protecting what it described as Nigeria’s “moral, cultural, and constitutional values.”
It also warned filmmakers, cinema operators and media distribution platforms against promoting, hosting or facilitating the exhibition of Living in Colors, urging them to comply with the Board’s directive or risk legal action.
