With only 351 screens across 93 cinema locations serving over 200 million Nigerians, the NFVCB has launched an aggressive push for community cinemas to bridge the massive infrastructure gap.
At NECLive 2025, DG Shaibu Husseini revealed that Nigeria currently has more than 2 million people per cinema screen, severely limiting the industry’s earning potential. He cited filmmaker Funke Akindele, who generates over 1 billion naira annually at cinemas, noting that increased screen access could push such figures into the trillions.
“We have approached our honorable minister to let her know we need to encourage investment in community cinemas not these cinemas in multiplexes that people cannot be able to afford especially if they’re on a minimum wage. Every year Funke Akindele does over 1 billion in at the cinema but if we have more spaces she’ll be able to do trillions,” he said.
The board has successfully negotiated with the federal government to offer significant incentives for community cinema development. Investors who establish at least 20 community cinemas will receive a five-year tax rebate and free licensing during that period.
This initiative aims to make cinema more accessible beyond expensive multiplexes, where tickets can cost around 15,000 naira, making them unaffordable for minimum wage earners.
