The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji LAI MOHAMMED, gave this indication in line with the government’s target of creating one million jobs in the creative industry in three years.
LAI MOHAMMED noted that the job creation target cannot be realized if programmes meant for Nigerians are exported to other countries in the guise of production.
MOHAMMED maintained that he was not appointed Minister to develop the economy of other countries at the expense of the Nigerian economy.
The Minister, who was reacting to comments attributed to him in media reports, said he never mentioned that all music videos and films will be produced in Nigeria, or that the production of music videos or films outside Nigeria will be banned.
He maintained that if a programme is designated as a Nigerian local content programme, government would amend the Nigerian Broadcasting Commission Code to ensure that such programme is produced in Nigeria.
The Information and Culture Minister recalled how his office was bombarded with calls from concerned Nigerians when the last edition of the ”Big Brother Naija” was produced in South Africa.
LAI MOHAMMED said based on the findings in the report of an investigation by the National Broadcasting Commission, government decided to amend the relevant sections of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code to prevent a repeat of such development.
MOHAMMED also disclosed in a statement released by his Special Assistant, that the National Broadcasting Code was also being amended to help develop the local football league.
He said the amendment is to ensure that if any company in Nigeria invests a million dollars in promoting or supporting any football team or league outside Nigeria, such programme will not be aired unless that company supports the Nigerian League with not less than thirty percent of the cost of such investment.
The Minister said Nigerian companies cannot continue to develop the economies of other parts of the world from the sweat of Nigerians and at the expense of the Nigerian economy.
