NFVCB Defends Approval of ‘A Very Dirty Christmas’ as Metaphorical While Ordering Title Change Following Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Backlash

The National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB) has stepped into the center of a brewing religious controversy, defending its classification of the Nollywood movie “A Very Dirty Christmas” while simultaneously ordering its producers to change the title to appease aggrieved religious bodies.

The controversy reached a fever pitch today, Wednesday, December 24, 2025, as the board’s Executive Director, Dr. Shaibu Husseini, issued a series of clarifications regarding the film’s approval. The intervention follows a stern protest from the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), which described the title as a “desecration” of the sacred holiday season.

In his statement, Husseini explained that the board did not find the film’s content blasphemous. “During review, the title was interpreted as metaphorical rather than literal—understood as a reference to human conduct, moral contradictions, or social realities unfolding during a festive period,” he stated. He emphasized that the film does not mock the nativity or any core Christian doctrine, focusing instead on a family reunion that spirals into emotional conflict over long-buried secrets.

However, recognizing the “public perception” and the risk of “unnecessary religious tension,” the NFVCB has now formally engaged the lead producer, Ini Edo, to modify the title. This move aligns with Section 39(1) of the NFVCB Act, which allows for the withdrawal or review of films in the public interest.

The lead producer, Ini Edo, took to social media in an emotional video, pleading with both the public and regulators to judge the movie by its content rather than its provocative name. “I am a practicing Christian, and I would never deliberately produce content that undermines my faith,” Edo stated. She apologized for the offense caused but expressed deep concern over the financial implications of pulling the movie from the 70 cinemas where it is currently screening.

“We have over 70 cinemas nationwide. We’ve done print, media, and digital [promotion]. I don’t know how we are going to do it [if the film is pulled],” she lamented, though she confirmed her willingness to stylize the title to reach a compromise with the authorities.

Industry heavyweights, including Rita Dominic and IK Ogbonna, have rallied behind the production, urging Nigerians to watch the film before drawing conclusions. As of Christmas Eve, the film remains in cinemas, though a title modification is expected to be implemented across promotional materials in the coming days.