LAGOS – Theatre Arts and Motion Pictures Association of Nigeria (TAMPAN) has urged the incoming administration to support the industry to critically address piracy scourge affecting its growth.
Mr. Debo Alexander, the newly elected Governor of the Association, Lagos State chapter, made the call in an interview with newsmen in Lagos.
Alexander said that pirates were a cankerworm upsetting the development of the sector.
“We are appealing to the incoming government led by Maj.-Gen Muhammed Buhari to help in wiping out pirates in the country.
“If it cannot be completely wiped out, it should be reduced to the barest minimum,’’ Alexander said.
According to him, it was the action of pirates that led producers to produce low quality film.
“When a producer of a film spent N1 million to produce a movie, he or she might not get back up to N500,000 in return.
“Because, most of the films will have been pirated. Such action led to producers to spent less money in producing a movie,’’ he said.
Alexander also expressed optimism that the industry would fetch government huge revenue, if well funded and protected.
He listed some of the potentials the industry is blessed with as script writing, movie marketing, distributing and producing, acting, editing and entertaining.
“If government can utilise the opportunity in the industry, it will increase its Internally Generated Revenue with 30 per cent,’’ he said.
According to Alexandra, the industry is fast growing and that in few years time, it will be competing with its international counterparts.
It would be recalled that the inauguration of the 11 elected members of the association was held on May 3 at the LTV Multi Purpose Hall, Agidingbi, Ikeja, Lagos state.
Alexander commended members for their support in making the inauguration a successful one.