The National Film and Video Censors Boards, (NFVCB). South -South Zone has commenced censorship of movies at the Zonal Headquarters, Federal Secretariat Complex, Port Harcourt. The movie is titled “Benin Icon” and it was produced and shot in Germany.

This development took effect following approval by the Director-General of the Board, Mr. Emeka Mba in Abuja recently.

The co-ordinator of the South-South Zone, Mr. Caesar O. Kagho, said he has actualised an effort he has been making since October, 2005 when he resumed office in Port Harcourt.

The zonal co-ordinator said that producers who put uncensored films into the market, do not take cognisance of the moral, religious, social and ethnic implications such films would make on the society. He added that dealers on pornography should desist from the business or risk being arraigned before mobile courts and possible imprisonment.

Port Harcourt-based movie producer and director, Mr. Fisim Young-Arny, who presented “the movie “Berlin Icon”, on behalf of Germany - based Trend International Productions, said he was excited over the development and called for technical standardisation in film making both locally and internationally. He said “Berlin Icon” is an x-ray of some of the things Africans do abroad to survive. Mr. Fisim Young-Amy disclosed that he had other films of his own in the pipeline which were shot in the Niger Delta and in due course would be presented for censorship.

Engr. Reginald Orlu, the Chairman Association of Movie Producers (AMP), Rivers State Chapter, expressed happiness over the censorship of movies in the zone and therefore called on movie producers to take advantages of the proximity of Port Harcourt rather than traveling long distances to censor their movies.

Hon. Rex. Aka, National President, Video Club Owners Association of Nigeria (VCOAN), glorified God for the approval of censorship of films in Port Harcourt by the NFVCB, and added that this would enhance the activities of the Board, in the South-South as in other zones like Lagos, Onitsha, Kano and Jos. He commended the zonal co-ordinator and the zone for their good perfomances, adding that films are better censored where they are produced.

The South-South Zone of the NFVCB Comprises of Delta, Edo, Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom and Cross River states