The federal government says it will regulate streaming and content providers such as Netflix, as a measure to avoid being used as agents of destabilisation.
Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, disclosed this at a two-day conference organised by the National Film and Video Censors Board in Lagos, with the theme: “Nigeria Digital Content Regulation”.
Mohammed said the federal government and in the entertainment and creative industry had discussed “the implication of Nigeria censorship laws and regulatory framework for Over-The-Top (OTT) streaming services and content providers in Nigeria.”
He said the popularity and demand for streaming services in Nigeria increased with the COVID-19 pandemic.
The minister who was represented by Comfort Ajiboye, Director, Information and Technology in the ministry, said the social media and streaming services could be used “to cause chaos and undermine democratic processes.”
Executive Director and CEO of the NFVCB, Adedayo Thomas, said with over 50 percent internet penetration, it has become necessary for stakeholders to brainstorm on creating policies to regulate streamers and content providers in Nigeria, following the inability of streaming service providers to self-regulate.
