Controversy attends Falz's This Is Nigeria video

The National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB) has said the pop artist’s work was not vetted prior to its release.

“Falz didn’t bring his music video for licensing before it got to the public,” Cornell Agim, director of the licensing department of the NFVCB, told local media. “I haven’t seen the video; same as the agency. None of our monitoring team has brought it to my notice. Hence, we didn’t censor it before it got to the public.

“The agency does censorship and rating of music video before it gets to the general public. We ensure we do analysis of those videos. We also try as much as possible not to tamper with the creative intention of any artist except if they come with some obscenity, which we usually kick against.”

While it is unclear if the NFVCB has the powers to enforce any penalties, Falz has also received a strongly worded statement from the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC). The body has demanded for an apology from Falz as well as a withdrawal of the video for 'This Is Nigeria', an adaptation of Childish Gambino's 'This Is America' 

The MURIC finds the video “thoughtless” and “provocative” due to its depiction of a group of girls garbed in hijabs and dancing. Although Falz has said that this is a representation of the kidnapped Chibok Girls, MURIC director Ishaq Akintola has dismissed the popstar's claim through a statement.

“At least none of the Chibok girls have been seen dancing like a drunkard,” the statement says. “They are always in a pensive mood. Do they have any cause to be dancing? Are they happy?

“The video manifests ethnic bias against Fulanis while it ignored the criminal activities of ethnic militia of the Middle Belt who have also massacred Fulanis and rustled their cattle in their thousands. It is a hate video. This video has the potential of causing a religious crisis of unprecedented dimension. It is an assault on the self-dignity of every Muslim. It is freedom of expression gone haywire. We therefore demand its withdrawal and an apology to Nigerian Muslims within seven days or the authors and their agents will face legal action if they fail to comply.”

The statement also indicts the censorship body. “The National Film and Video Censors Board, a regulatory agency set up by Act No 85 of 1993 to regulate films and the video industry, has a case to answer.”

Update: A spokesperson for Falz has said the video will remain live. "We have nothing to say," he said. "We are not withdrawing the video neither are we commenting on their claims. If they (MURIC) have any grievance they can head to court and we will meet them."