FG to regulate Netflix, other streaming services because they are worried that they can be used to “cause chaos” and undermine Nigeria’s democratic processes.
At a two-day conference, the government and industry stakeholders discussed “the implication of Nigeria censorship laws and regulatory framework for Over-The-Top (OTT) streaming services and content providers in Nigeria.”
Speaking, the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, said the popularity and demand of streaming services in Nigeria increased with the COVID-19 pandemic, “hence its regulation.”
Represented by Comfort Ajiboye, Director, Information and Technology in the ministry, Mr Mohammed reiterated his age-long bias that social media and streaming services can be used “to cause chaos and undermine democratic processes.”
The conference was organized by the National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB) on Wednesday in Lagos, along with practitioners and stakeholders in the entertainment and creative industry.
In his opening address, Adedayo Thomas, Executive Director and CEO of the NFVCB, said the conference was to brainstorm on creating policies to regulate streamers and content providers in Nigeria.
“With over 50 percent internet penetration, it has become imperative to convene this conference to bring together stakeholders and legislators in a conversation so as to come up with crystal policies on the regulation of streamers and content providers,” Mr Thomas said.
