Vanessa 
…the streaming giant still active
Amid growing speculation that Netflix has exited the Nigerian market, the National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB) has confirmed that the global streaming giant remains active in the country.
Dr. Shaibu Husseini, Executive Director and CEO of the NFVCB, debunked the rumours in an exclusive conversation with THISDAY. According to him, Netflix has not pulled out but has only adjusted its investment strategy in Nigeria.
“Netflix has not left Nigeria, as widely reported,” Husseini said. “The streaming giant is still licensing Nigerian content and has only taken an investment decision to scale down operations for the time being.”
Delegation Meets Netflix in Amsterdam
Husseini recently led a delegation to Netflix’s headquarters in Amsterdam. The visit, initiated by the Minister of Arts, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa, aimed to address the company’s decision to pause the commissioning of original Nigerian content and to explore collaborative solutions going forward.
Rumours of Misconduct Dismissed
Last year, reports surfaced suggesting Netflix’s decision was influenced by unethical practices among some Nigerian filmmakers, allegations that certain producers delivered subpar content despite receiving generous budgets. These claims also suggested Netflix had cancelled or paused several projects.
However, Husseini firmly denied those accusations. “There is no truth in the story making the rounds that they scaled down their investment because Nigerian producers were alleged to be diverting production resources. Nothing like that,” he clarified.
He emphasized that Netflix remains committed to Nigeria’s film industry and continues to see the country as a vital part of its content ecosystem. “Netflix looks forward to continued engagements with the industry, reinforcing their role as a key partner in promoting Nigerian films internationally,” he added.
An official report detailing the outcomes of the Netflix meeting is expected to be released later this month by Minister Musawa.
