Banned for ‘Explicit Content’: Why the FG Just Stopped ‘Living in Colors

Nollywood Shutdown: Legal Heat Following FG's Immediate Halt of ‘Living in Colors’ Premiere

The highly anticipated Lagos premiere of the upcoming movie Living in Colors has hit a brick wall following swift intervention by the Federal Government of Nigeria.

The National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB) has officially blocked all public viewing and promotional events surrounding the film, which were scheduled to kick off this weekend at a prominent Lagos cinema space.

Here is everything you need to know about the regulatory crackdown shaking up the film community this week.

The Double Whammy: Why the Film Was Blocked

The NFVCB highlighted two major violations that triggered the immediate enforcement action:

• Sidelining the Regulatory Vetting: The board revealed that the production team never submitted the film for official screening, vetting, or legal grading. Under Nigerian laws, showcasing an unrated film to the public is entirely illegal.
• Prohibited Trailer Content: Following an initial investigation into the film’s promotional trailer, officials allegedly flagged graphic pornography and elements promoting same-gender relationships. This directly violates the Same-Sex Marriage (Prohibition) Act and the core NFVCB Act.

Security Details Deployed to Venues

To make sure the ban is strictly enforced, the regulatory board is actively collaborating with both federal and state law enforcement agencies to track down and disrupt any press calls or underground screening events planned by the organizers.

Cinema facility managers and venue providers across Lagos have also been put on high alert. The NFVCB issued a stern warning: any hub caught hosting the unrated film faces immediate closure and the permanent forfeiture of its operational business licenses.

Legal Backlash and YouTube Status

The government is taking things a step further than just stopping the red-carpet event. Full legal proceedings are currently being drawn up against the production company behind the project, Prism House Studio, alongside the individual promoters and producers involved.

This massive regulatory wall hits the project just days before its scheduled digital release on YouTube, which was penciled in for August 30, 2026.

The NFVCB has reiterated that it will continue to enforce total compliance with local broadcasting and cinematic standards to preserve Nigeria's cultural, legal, and moral benchmarks