NFVCB film ratings explained: what G, PG, 12A, 15, 18 and RE mean
Every film, skit and music video released in Nigeria needs an NFVCB rating. What each symbol means, which ones are legally binding, how classification works, what it costs, and what the 2024 rules on rituals and smoking say.
The letters and numbers on a Nigerian film poster come from the National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB), the federal body that classifies films and video works before they can be shown or sold in Nigeria. Its seven symbols tell you who a film is suitable for, and the age-based ones are backed by legally enforceable rules on who may watch.
This guide explains each rating, how the board decides, what it costs to get a certificate, and why a widely shared claim that Nigeria “banned ritual scenes” in 2024 was not accurate.
What each NFVCB rating means
The board’s own pages list these classifications:
| Symbol | What it means |
|---|---|
| G | General exhibition: suitable for all ages |
| PG | Parental guidance: some scenes may not suit young children; parents advised to watch with them |
| 12 | For viewers aged 12 and over |
| 12A | 12 and over; younger children may watch with a responsible adult |
| 15 | Not suitable for anyone under 15 |
| 18 | Adults only |
| RE | Restricted exhibition: shown only in controlled venues, for example licensed adult premises; no general release |
The board says its system does two jobs. It sets legally enforceable rules that keep minors out of adult films, and it gives parents advance information so they can decide what their children watch. In practice, G and PG are guidance for families. The 12, 15 and 18 descriptions say the work is suitable only for people of that age and over, the board’s wording for “12” adds that it is “not to be supplied” to anyone younger, and RE titles can only be shown in controlled venues, for example licensed adult premises.
What has to be classified
It is not only cinema releases. The NFVCB says films, music videos, skits and even video games must all be submitted for classification before distribution or exhibition in Nigeria. That covers a lot of the content Nigerians watch online, not just what plays in cinemas.
Under the board’s policy, the classification symbol has to appear prominently on all marketing material, and on screen before a film is shown.
How the board decides
The NFVCB’s powers come from the NFVCB Act 85 of 1993 (Cap N40, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004). Section 37 sets out what its committee must weigh. In summary, a work should have educational or entertainment value, and should not be likely to:
- undermine national security;
- corrupt public or private morality;
- encourage or glorify violence or criminal acts;
- expose people of African heritage to ridicule;
- stir up discrimination or conflict along racial, religious or ethnic lines;
- be blasphemous or obscene;
- denigrate the dignity of womanhood.
The board can cut a film or refuse to classify it, and it says it will not classify material it believes breaks criminal law. Where possible, it prefers to protect children through the rating categories rather than by rejecting a work.
How classification works, and what it costs
For a standard submission, the NFVCB’s process is to prepare the work, fill in the right form, pay through the federal government’s RevOP platform and submit everything to the nearest office. The board says it classifies works within 20 working days, and the certificate can be collected within five working days of the decision.
Fees in the board’s published schedule depend on running time and language. At the time of writing, examples include:
- A 91–120 minute film: ₦45,000 in a local language, ₦60,000 in English, ₦70,000 for a foreign film.
- Public exhibition: a 30% surcharge on top of the fee for films meant for cinemas.
- Fast-track processing: an extra ₦50,000.
There is also a faster route for films made for online distribution. Producers email an application letter and a download link to their nearest NFVCB office, pay a flat ₦50,000 for films of 1 to 120 minutes, and the board says the work is classified and approved within 24 hours of confirmed payment. Fees can change, so check the board’s current schedule before submitting.
Did Nigeria ban ritual and smoking scenes?
No, not outright. In May 2024 several outlets reported that the government had banned money-ritual scenes in films. The fact-checking organisation Dubawa rated that claim misleading.
What exists is a 2024 regulation that prohibits the promotion and glamorisation of money rituals, ritual killing, tobacco and nicotine products in movies, music videos and skits. NFVCB chief executive Shaibu Husseini clarified the position in a statement quoted by Dubawa:
“What I mentioned in a speech that I have shared here is the existence of a regulation (NFVCB Regulations 2024) that, in line with global best practices, prohibits the Promotion and glamourisation of Money Ritual, Ritual Killing, Tobacco, Tobacco product, Nicotine products in movies, musical videos, and skits.”
Shaibu Husseini, as quoted by Dubawa
According to the same statement, smoking scenes that are needed for historical accuracy, education or to show a negative lifestyle must carry a health warning at the start and end of the work. In other words, the rules target glorification, not every depiction.
Why ratings matter for viewers and filmmakers
For families, the rating is the quickest guide to whether a film suits younger viewers. For producers, a certificate is a legal requirement before release, and the rating decides who can legally buy a ticket: an 18 rating rules out every viewer under 18, which narrows a film’s potential cinema audience.
For how those weekends are measured, see our guide to the highest-grossing Nollywood films and how box office is tracked. For the industry’s background, read the history of Nollywood.
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