The National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB) says it approved and classified 1,185 films between January and December 2025, reflecting steady growth and continued activity in Nigeria’s film industry.
According to the annual classification report, the films approved during the year spanned a wide range of genres and languages, reflecting both the vibrancy of local film production and the continued submission of foreign-language content for classification in Nigeria. By comparison, the Board classified 1,088 films in 2024, indicating a consistently high level of industry engagement.
According to the signed press release by Ogbonna Onwumere
Director, Corporate Affairs.
For: National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB) “English-language films accounted for the highest number of approvals throughout the year, reaffirming their dominance in Nigeria’s film production landscape. Yoruba and Igbo films followed, while Hausa and other indigenous Nigerian language films appeared less frequently.
The report, however, noted a broader representation of indigenous languages such as Nupe, Berom, and Gbagyi particularly in September 2025, highlighting Nigeria’s cultural diversity. Foreign-language films, including those in Hindi, French, and Japanese, were also classified during the year.
In terms of audience classification, the data reveal a strong concentration of 15 and 18 ratings across all months, indicating that most films approved in 2025 were targeted at mature audiences. Family-friendly classifications such as G, PG, and 12A were comparatively fewer, suggesting limited production of children’s and general-audience content during the year.
Monthly analysis showed that May 2025 recorded the highest number of film approvals, with 173 titles classified. Overall trends for the year indicate :a consistent dominance of English-language films in monthly approvals;
A clear majority of films classified under mature ratings (15 and 18);
Growing, though still limited, inclusion of indigenous Nigerian languages beyond the major ones.
Commenting on the report, the NFVCB reiterated its commitment to encouraging greater diversity in film production, particularly increased investment in family-friendly content and wider use of Nigeria’s indigenous languages. This aligns with the Executive Director’s ongoing emphasis on promoting cultural representation and inclusivity within the nation’s film industry. The Board had in a bid to encourage more indigenous language films reduced the classification fees of indigenous language films outside of Igbo, Youruba and Hausa.
The Board further affirmed that the 2025 classification figures demonstrate sustained momentum in Nigeria’s film sector and reaffirm the NFVCB’s role in ensuring responsible content classification while supporting industry growth.
