Yesterday, the Minister of Information and
Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed disclosed that
the Federal Government has taken steps to
amend the Nigeria Broadcasting Code to
discourage the production of Nigerian
movies and music outside the shore of the
country.
Well, not alot of Nigerians agree with this
and singer, Shakar El has just written an
Open Letter to the minister where he raised
some very valid points.
According to him, ‘If Nigerian Public holders
continue to be seek medical care outside
Nigeria, it affects our economy negatively
and it reduces the investment in our health
care. Unlike Entertainment, Health is Wealth,
only a healthy person will afford to go to
work or travel abroad for a production’.
Read his full piece below…
Dear Honourable Minister,
I totally understand your patriotic Concerns
about Nigerian Entertainers going outside
Nigeria to Produce movies,Songs and
Videos. First of all you need to be informed
that most times, entertainers shoot outside
Nigeria because of the concept of that
particular project and in some cases due to
lack of Logistics to produce such movie or
song in Nigeria.Honourable, only a handful
of Nigerian entertainers/ production
companies can actually afford to produce
their project outside the shores of Nigeria.
Many of us can’t even afford to produce in
Nigeria Talk less of going abroad
considering the high cost of Flights,
Hotels,Forex and the state of Nigerian
Economy.In the few cases where some
artists can afford to produce abroad then it
is not much of a problem since they will be
using their own money for such expenses
and not at the expense of Tax payers.
Honourable, I wish you can use your office
to push against medical tourism by Nigerian
Public office holders which appears to be a
major problem to our economy and
Development as a country than
Entertainment tourism/Exchange.
If Nigerian Public holders continues to be
seeking medical care outside Nigeria,it
affects our economy negatively and it
reduces the investment in our health care.
Unlike Entertainment, Health is Wealth, only a
healthy person will afford to go to work or
travel abroad for a production. Recently a lot
of our Nigerian entertainers have died in
Nigerian hospitals due to lack of medical
infrastructure in Nigeria since they can’t
afford medical treatment in other countries,
Some are suffering due to lack of welfare
and increase in piracy.
Honourable with your Significant office, you
can be the voice that will reduce piracy to
the lowest level and introduce a new code
against pirates so that entertainers will be
able to reap the fruit of their labour and pay
their due tax to the government so that the
Economy of our great country Nigeria will
thrive.
Honourable Minister I pray you will take this
few points of mine seriously as we work
towards a Better Nigeria for Everyone.
God bless Nigeria!
