The National Film and Video Censors Board has justified its approval of the Nollywood film A Very Dirty Christmas, insisting that the title does not denigrate or ridicule the Christian faith, even as it engages the producers to consider a possible modification following public backlash.
The Executive Director of the NFVCB, Dr Shaibu Husseini, made the clarification on Wednesday through a series of posts on X, amid criticisms from Christian organisations over the film’s title.
Husseini explained that the board approved the film after a detailed regulatory review, which assessed both the storyline and the creative intention behind the title.
“The title was reviewed within its narrative context and interpreted as metaphorical rather than literal,” he said. “It was understood to reflect human behaviour, moral tensions and social contradictions that unfold during a festive period, not as an attack on Christmas as a sacred Christian celebration.”
He stressed that the film does not mock, trivialise or misrepresent Christian beliefs, adding that there is no portrayal of the nativity, the birth of Jesus Christ or any core Christian doctrine in a negative light.
“There is no scene, dialogue or imagery that ridicules Christian worship or theology. In exercising its statutory mandate, the NFVCB prioritises context and intent over isolated semantic interpretations,” Husseini noted.
Despite this position, the NFVCB said it had opened discussions with the film’s producers in response to concerns raised by Christian groups and members of the public.
According to Husseini, the board has requested a possible adjustment or stylisation of the title to address public sensitivity without compromising the creative essence or commercial value of the work.
“Post-approval engagement of this nature is not unusual in global film practice,” he said, citing instances where films have been retitled following public objections.
He added that the move was guided by the provisions of the NFVCB Act and aimed at preventing misunderstanding and potential religious tension.
“Engagement is ongoing, and we are encouraged by the positive response from the producers. Any final decision will seek to preserve harmony among stakeholders and audiences,” Husseini stated.
The controversy erupted following the release and promotion of A Very Dirty Christmas, produced by Nollywood actress Ini Edo, which drew strong reactions from the Christian Association of Nigeria and other faith-based groups.
The groups described the title as offensive, arguing that linking Christmas with the word “dirty” undermines the religious significance of the celebration marking the birth of Jesus Christ. They called for an apology from the producers and urged regulators to reconsider the film’s approval.
In response, the producers maintained that the title is symbolic, saying it reflects the moral conflicts and family tensions explored in the film’s storyline rather than an attack on Christianity.
The film remains in cinemas nationwide as discussions over its title continue.
