Etinosa Idemudia laments about area boys’ extortion in Lagos state

Etinosa Idemudia, a prominent Nollywood actress and filmmaker, has urged the Lagos state government to address the issue of area boys, consistently disrupting film shoots and demand exorbitant fees from filmmakers.

She highlighted that this problem is unique to Lagos and has not been encountered in other states where she has worked.

Etinosa Idemudia emphasized the need for regulation in the industry to establish standards and protect practitioners.

She also stressed the importance of improving film quality and addressing funding challenges, which can limit creative projects.

While acknowledging recent improvements, such as grants from the Edo State government, she emphasized that funding remains a significant challenge for the industry’s growth.

“Another challenge is the case of area boys who often disrupt film shoots, demanding money in Lagos State. These people usually ask filmmakers to pay outrageous bills in order to continue their shoot. It’s daylight robbery.

“The Lagos State government needs to address this issue. I have not encountered this problem in any other states, such as Edo, Enugu or Abuja where I have filmed.

“The lack of regulation in Nollywood is a big challenge for me as a filmmaker and actor. Regulation is not about blocking the gate of any industry; it is about putting a check on entrance procedures, ways of carrying out activities and protecting its practitioners.

“In the film space, there is hardly anything like an exam or qualification process. It is a free-for-all, which is both good and bad. The value of films needs to improve. These challenges need to be addressed for the industry to thrive, and for us to showcase our craft to the world.

“Another major challenge is the lack of funding. Funding has always been a challenge. Sometimes, as a creative, you have amazing ideas, but the budget constraints can be disheartening. Recently, there have been improvements. There have been grants from the Edo State government and other sources. However, funding is likely to remain an issue in the industry, until the right things are done.”