Nollywood actor and lawmaker, Desmond Elliot’s call on the government to ban influx of foreign movies into the country in order to help local content grow has sparked criticisms from Nigerians on social media.
WuzupNaija reports that the lawmaker who represents Surulere at the Lagos State House of Assembly made the call during an interview with HipTV.
He had opined that the ban would make the local movie industry receive the fillip to grow.
His comment didn’t go down well with social media users who have taken to Twitter to caution the actor and advise him on what should be done to grow the Nigerian movie industry.
Some of the Twitter users also slammed the lawmaker and describes his comment as uninformed.
See some of the reactions:
We did not ban Foreign Music for NG Music to grow Desmond Elliot. NG Music evolved, grew & today Wizkid & Co are in Beyonce’s Album. If Nollywood can stop the constant fetishness, showing of bumbum & take their time to write creative story lines they”ll surely grow!!!
— King N●-N● ? (@Zaddy_nomso) July 22, 2019
Nollywood is doing well. It will keep growing, and will grow even faster if they give their audience movies with top notch storylines, plots, casting and a sufficient budget. There is no need to ban foreign films, Desmond Elliot. Nigerian music upgraded massively and went global.
— World Publicist (@IsimaOdeh) July 22, 2019
So Desmond Elliot is advocating for ban of foreign movies? It’s good like that.
But before then, let’s ban foreign medical trip and foreign education for politicians and children of politicians respectively.— Nsöm Uruan? (Atakpó1) (@Kany_10) July 22, 2019
I’m actually wondering what Foreign movies have to do with Nollywood growing. Such small vision . Desmond Elliot is only thinking about the industry blowing in Nigeria because I don’t know how banning foreign movies will help us outside Nigeria .
— ebele. (@ebelee_) July 22, 2019
Desmond Elliot said the Nigerian Government Should ban Abroad movies from coming into the country, so that we all can always go to the cinemas to watch Koto Aye, Aki n PawPaw Part 1-5. The abroad should be ready to ban Nigerian Music too.
— Dr. PamPam | Omo Iya Ologi (@thepamilerin) July 22, 2019
Hon Desmond Elliot would have made more sense advocating for strengthening copyright laws rather than proposing a ban on foreign movies.
But what do I know when I no be Nigerian ‘honourable’. pic.twitter.com/TOZkkqSqr9
— Gbemi Dennis™ (@GbemiDennis) July 22, 2019
Desmond Elliot is asleep. Who knows whether nollywood exist? Besides Who imports foreign movies again when there’s internet….. https://t.co/y4t2oVO1XQ
— Isaac (@dtrueking1) July 22, 2019
Nollywood takes a max of 1 week to produce using amateur equipments, inadequate location and terrible dialogues,etc
Every country is invited to submit what it considers its best film for the Oscars; Nigerian films do not meet the eligibility requirements. Desmond Elliot is a ?
— The Serial Chiller ? (@Beneezrr) July 22, 2019
Hon Desmond Elliot needs to understand that Banning Foreign Movies to help Nigerians focus on Nollywood won’t work, in as much as local music trend in clubs…people still love foreign music, can he ban me from downloading on my phone…. NO #Nigeria
pic.twitter.com/8LS9aLBDx3— T kay oseleye (@osee80) July 22, 2019
Desmond Elliot, I would have said it’s old age that’s affecting you but you are still young. So what’s ya problem. Nollywood should improve in their storyline and creativity then use updated technologies for shooting movies.
— Santity (@Santityseffect) July 22, 2019
– How can someone leave the village and come to the city, and within 6months you are a billionaire..did you include traffic in that 6months??♂️It can only happen in Nollywood
You want to reduce our brain to Talopa Chief ?♂️?♂️?♂️?♂️#Desmond Elliot pic.twitter.com/DxBEowE8r8— Golden Links? (@Collins3356) July 22, 2019
Desmond Elliot, truth is banning foreign movies won’t make Nollywood grow. With the Shii Nollywood produce week in week out???
You are practically telling us to give up watching the likes of Game of Thrones, Endgames, Lion King, etc to those baseless movies you call films??? pic.twitter.com/EEcm0QIX3r
— OLADIMEJI ? (@Dimz_i_am) July 22, 2019
Desmond Elliot seem to have forgotten that NetFlix (which is foreign) has done more for Nigerian movies than the fed govt.
Clown!!!!
— ~ENITAN•FEYIPITAN~ (@MR_OSUNKOYA) July 22, 2019
Please somebody should tell Desmond Elliot that foreign movies does not need to enter through our borders. There’s something called torrent and grab any movie with it from anywhere.
— Firms Kanayo [Masterofdisrupt] (@masterofdisrupt) July 22, 2019
