The Next Skit Maker Caught Demeaning Our Institution Will Be Prosecuted – LASTMA

Popular skit and filmmakers have been warned by the management of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) against using its uniform and kits for shoots without approval.

General Manager of LASTMA, Mr. Bolaji Oreagba recently had his say while speaking to the press, and fans have been reacting.

According to him, the demeaning manner in which movie and skit makers portray LASTMA institution in their movies and skits is very appalling, so henceforth, offenders would be arrested and prosecuted in line with Section 79 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2015 which criminalize unauthorized use of the uniform.

He added that National Association of Nigeria Theatre Arts Practitioners (NANTA) and other affiliated bodies should warn their members about a potential persecution.

His words, “Film or skit makers who portray as LASTMA Officer without applying for, and being duly issued a permit letter for such portrayals, should desist with immediate effect or face the full wrath of the Law.

“We implore National Association of Nigeria Theatre Arts Practitioners (NANTA) and other affiliated bodies to warn their members as anyone caught using LASTMA uniform without an approved permit would be prosecuted.”

WOW.

Nollywood is a sobriquet that originally referred to the Nigerian film industry. The origin of the term dates back to the early 2000s, traced to an article in The New York Times. Due to the history of evolving meanings and contexts, there is no clear or agreed-upon definition for the term, which has made it a subject to several controversies.

The origin of the term “Nollywood” remains unclear; Jonathan Haynes traced the earliest usage of the word to a 2002 article by Matt Steinglass in the New York Times, where it was used to describe Nigerian cinema.

Charles Igwe noted that Norimitsu Onishi also used the name in a September 2002 article he wrote for the New York Times. The term continues to be used in the media to refer to the Nigerian film industry, with its definition later assumed to be a portmanteau of the words “Nigeria” and “Hollywood”, the American major film hub.

Film-making in Nigeria is divided largely along regional, and marginally ethnic and religious lines. Thus, there are distinct film industries – each seeking to portray the concern of the particular section and ethnicity it represents. However, there is the English-language film industry which is a melting pot for filmmaking and filmmakers from most of the regional industries.