According to the Kano State Censorship Board, all actors, actresses, directors, and producers of Kannywood, the state’s filmmaking sector, have had their operational license withdrawn.
Abba El-Mustapha, the chairman of the board, stated that the move aims to sterilise the business and provide correct paperwork.
El-Mustapha stated that in order to continue doing business in the state, all producers and famous people must renew their licence.
“We have cancelled all licences of all guilds in the industry for proper documentation and to have effective plans that will address some of the problems in the industry.
“We have about 13 guilds; we have revoked all their licences, enabling us to sanitise the industry. Before a license is issued to any person, we must be satisfied with the person.
“The decision also affects all the singers and other entertainers in the Kannywood industry; they must renew their licences, and we are going to fetch out the bad eggs among them”, El-Mustapha said.
Many have criticised the action as a deliberate attempt to use strict laws to punish celebrities who ran against the state’s ruling party, the New Nigeria People Party (NNPP), in the recently held general elections.
In the run-up to the elections, Kannywood was split along partisan lines, with El-Mustapha, the new board chairman, being a member of the NNPP.
