Nollywood veteran actor and a lawmaker in the Lagos State House of Assembly, Desmond Olushola Elliot on Sunday July 21, 2019 called for the federal government to place a ban on foreign films and fans are not happy with his remarks.
Elliot made this remark during an interview with HipTV where he dropped his two cents on the matter of improving Nollywood movies. Elliot said banning foreign movies will do the trick and likened it to how the federal government banned rice importation into the country.
He said:
Secondly, they need to consciously and intentionally focus on improving this industry. Treat it like you’re importing rice… You ban all foreign content, make it difficult for all foreign content to come in, so your local content can grow.
And then, you need to support (financially) the music industry, you need to support the film industry… even the comic industry as well…
However, some Nigerians angrily took to Twitter to react and negate the actor’s opinion.
See some reactions below…….
Gbemi Dennis™@GbemiDennisHon Desmond Elliot would have made more sense advocating for strengthening copyright laws rather than proposing a ban on foreign movies.
But what do I know when I no be Nigerian ‘honourable’.
Desmond Elliot, Nigeria don’t need to ban Foreign movies for Nollywood to grow. In case you need my advise this what Nollywood need to do.
Create outstanding storylines set for e.g @UpNorthTheFilm_ #TheYelloSun @Lionheart_Movie #WeddingParty
Seet back and watch the space.— Sylvester Emmanuel (@_SEmmanuel) July 22, 2019
What Desmond Elliot don’t know is that, Banning Hollywood movies in Nigeria would probably would lead to the death of all the cinemas in the country. #Naijablogger.
— Samuel Date360. #Naijablogger (@Naijablogger) July 22, 2019
How can you ask the Nigerian government to ban foreign movies should other countries ban our music and movies? Desmond Elliot should have asked that they support our movie industry so that we can get up to the standard the foreign movies are at cos we need to step up our game.
— strategy (@Noblestrategyy) July 22, 2019
It should interest Desmond Elliot to know that Nollywood surpasses Hollywood as the world’s second largest movie industry by volume, right behind India’s Bollywood.
The problem with our industry is quality and mediocre storylines. We are fed up with the “Igwe and Mazi” movies.
— The Serial Chiller (@Beneezrr) July 22, 2019
