The National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB), say it has approved and classified no fewer than 304 films between January and April.

This is contained in a statement on Thursday, by the Director, Corporate Affairs, NFVCB, Ogbonna Onwumere on Thursday.

Onwumere said that the movies approved and classified within the period under review, increased by 34 films surpassing the 267 approved and classified in 2025.

He said that the increase underscored the steady expansion of local film production and distribution across the country.

According to him, January accounted for the highest number of classifications with 102 films approved, followed by February with 83, March 77, and April 42.

”English-language productions dominated the list with 201 films, while Igbo accounted for 44, and Yoruba 42.

”Other languages represented include Hindi with nine films, Hausa, five and Bini, three.”

An analysis of the ratings issued by the censorship agency also showed that most of the productions fell within the 15 and 18 age categories, reflecting prevailing themes and creative directions in contemporary Nigerian filmmaking.

The breakdown indicates that 10 films received the G classification, 16 were rated PG, while 18 films fell within the 12/12A category.

A total of 157 films were rated 15, while 103 received the 18 classification.

Commenting on the figures, the Director of Film Censorship and Classification at the NFVCB, Deborah Malgwi, said the board remained committed to promoting professionalism and responsible storytelling within the industry.

”The increase in film classification activities underscores the resilience and expanding capacity of Nigeria’s creative industry, particularly in local content production and distribution,” she said.

Malgwi added that the board would continue to regulate the sector in line with national values and international best practices.

She emphasised that film classification remained a critical regulatory mechanism designed to protect children and vulnerable audiences from unsuitable content while also providing necessary viewing guidance to parents, guardians and the general public.

She commended filmmakers, producers and other stakeholders for their cooperation and compliance with the board’s regulatory framework.

Nigeria’s film industry, popularly known as Nollywood, regarded as one of the largest film industries globally by volume, has increasingly gained international attention through streaming platforms, cinema releases and cross-border collaborations.(NAN)