Ruggedman, Nigerian rapper and music producer, has joined the league of celebrities taking a stand against the FG’s decision in the entertainment sphere.
The CEO of Twentieth September Wears by Ruggedman, in an open letter to the Lai Mohammed, minister of culture and tourism, condemned the FG’s actions as bullying.
The minister had paid a visit to the headquarters of the Copyright Society of Nigeria (COSON), promising, in his statement, that the government had plans to ban shooting of movies and music videos abroad.
When news of the statement broke, several artistes and entertainment practitioners, including Ruggedman, expressed their displeasure at the statement.
“It is wrong to try to bully your way into the Nigerian entertainment industry you did nothing to help build. It is absurd to say you will ban entertainers from shooting music videos or movies abroad. Your reason being that we go there to enrich their economy with Nigeria’s money,” the rapper wrote in an open letter to the minister.
“If you want entertainers to stop going abroad to shoot music videos and movies, then government officials should stop going abroad for hospitals, vacations and schools. We can use all those billions spent in funding foreign economies to equip our schools, hospitals and other parastatals.
“They are our leaders and so have to lead by example. Trying to ban private owned businesses (entertainers) from doing part of their business abroad will go against the democracy your party preaches.”
Ruggedybaba, as he is known to his fans, listed some of the things the federal government should focus on instead of the proposed ban.
“First of all, shelve the talk of banning entertainers working abroad. It is not what the creative industry needs from the government and it is a terrible look for you. Nobody likes a bully.
“No structure means no alternative: Since we do not have a proper structure yet, put a hold on your $1m venture capital for the creative industry.”
He said the government should make television and radio stations pay royalty to artistes.
“Radio and television stations have amassed billions of Nigeria from using Nigerian artists hard work without paying the artistes. This is where you can come in and set up a policy that will make sure they start paying artists whose work they use.
“They already make a lot of money from adverts placed by companies.
“Telcos sell our songs/ringtones and take 70% while the owner of the work gets to share 30% with a content provider. If you are to ban anybody, it is the telcos who do this.”
He also urged that the federal government help curb piracy and also help build ‘a much-needed structure’ in the creative industry.
“Let’s work together to further grow and capitalize on a Nigerian creative industry that has managed to boom without any government policy.”
