The National Film and Video Censors Board is at an advanced stage of securing crucial tax incentives designed to boost local film production and reduce operational costs for Nigerian filmmakers.
Director General Shaibu Husseini disclosed at the NECLive 2025 panel that the board has approached government authorities to reduce the entertainment tax from 10% to 5%, with the freed-up 5% going directly to filmmakers. The proposal has reached council level for consideration.
“We’re also interested in making sure that we work with the government in such a way that the entertainment tax is reduced in favour of the filmmaker. Presently the entertainment tax is 10% and we have gone up to council to ensure that we reduce the entertainment tax to 5%. So that the 5% we get to the filmmaker. It’s at that stage.”
Additionally, the NFVCB is working to ensure that Nigerian production outfits importing equipment for filmmaking receive tax relief and other incentives. “We also want to ensure that those who are importing equipment, production equipment to the country to make films will get some kind of tax relief and some incentives, but they must be Nigerian production outfits.”
Husseini emphasised that the board’s current focus centres on balancing creativity with responsibility while setting policies that encourage investment. “We are more concerned about ensuring that we set down policies that will encourage investment in the industry,” he stated, outlining the board’s commitment to creating an enabling environment for the sector’s growth.
