Lagos – Movie Marketers under the aegis of Film and Video Producers and Marketers Association of Nigeria (FVPMAN) on Wednesday urged the Lagos State Government to establish a special task force to fight piracy.
The association made the plea at the Lagos Assembly Roundtable Dialogue with stakeholders in the industry, comprising the distributors, producers and film directors.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the meeting, convened by Mr Desmond Elliot (APC-Surulere 1) had in attendance some lawmakers of the Lagos State House of Assembly.
Mr Emeka Aduah, the Chairman of the Lagos State Chapter of the Movie and Marketers Association of Nigeria (MAN) called on the state government to help combat the challenges facing the industry.
“Our association has so much taken steps to curb piracy; in fact, many of us have been attacked, harmed and wounded in the effort to curb the menace that has destroyed the industry.
“We need to address this problem holistically. We appeal to the Lagos State Government to set up a special task force to fight piracy.
“We also want mobile courts to try the offenders to save our souls from the pirates,” Aduah said.
He urged the government to support the association in public enlightenment campaign against piracy and purchase of pirated copies of movies and songs.
Earlier in his remark, the Speaker of the House of Assembly Mr Mudashiru Obasa, assured the association of the support of the lawmakers with the instrument of the law.
Obasa urged the association to come up with ideas about taking Nollywood forward.
“There is a ministry in charge of matters that concern anything about Nollywood and with one of you with us here as a lawmaker (Elliot), we are sure we will do something to protect your interest.
“It is a war that we have to fight together. Your existence is a source of joy and happiness to Nigeria, and that is why we will be glad to help in any way we can”, Obasa said.
The speaker assured them that the government would not allow Nollywood to die.
“Your industry has developed the economy and made this country popular abroad,” he said.
Obasa commended the association for having strong faith in the Lagos parliament.
Also speaking, Elliot attributed the slow growth in the film industry to little or no involvement of government in the business of the industry.
He decried piracy saying: “it is killing the industry and operators in the industry’’.
According to him, partnership between the state government and the industry can boost the economy of the state.
On the spate of illnesses and death of Nollywood members, Elliot called for the creation of an Emergency Trust Fund, from which every member could draw in time of need.
Members of the association, who took turns to make contributions on the issue, called on the government to create an enabling environment for promotion of the industry.
They urged government to grant them tax rebate or tax holiday and also create a film village in the state to create employment and generate revenue for the government.
They also appealed to government to implement or redesign the laws dealing with piracy to make them more effective.
According to them, if properly harnessed, Nollywood will boost tourism by 40 per cent and will make Nigeria more internationally. (NAN)