FG to Enforce Local Content Policy, Bans Foreign Cartoons on TV Channels

The Federal Government has raised concerns about the growing influence of “foreign attitudes” among Nigerian children, which it attributes to their exposure to foreign cartoons.

Lanre Onilu, Director-General of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), made this known in Bauchi on Friday during the launch of a campaign to promote the National Anthem and the National Value Charter. Onilu, represented by Nura Yusuf Kobi, National Director of Planning, Research, and Statistics (PRS) at NOA, expressed worry about the infiltration of foreign cultures into Nigerian households through cartoon characters.

He revealed that President Bola Tinubu had approved a plan to replace foreign cartoons with Nigerian-made content aimed at promoting national values and preserving cultural identity.

“We are concerned that Nigerian children are adopting foreign behaviours. Our kids are learning many foreign attitudes through cartoons from other countries. To address this, we will replace foreign cartoons with local productions that reflect Nigerian culture and character. Channels like GOtv, StarTimes, and others will begin airing local content,” Onilu stated.

He also highlighted how Nigeria’s global image has suffered, often being associated with kidnappers, bandits, terrorists, and fraudsters. “We want to redefine Nigeria’s identity. In the past, during the leadership of figures like Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Chief Nnamdi Azikiwe, and Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, Nigeria had a well-defined identity,” he said.

Onilu further lamented how, in contemporary Nigeria, basic acts of honesty are treated as extraordinary achievements. “It is unfortunate that we now celebrate when someone returns lost items at airports, as if that is not a basic expectation. Nigerians were once known for their honesty, but we have lost our moral compass,” he remarked.

The NOA’s new campaign, according to Onilu, seeks to reshape Nigeria’s image and encourage citizens, especially those abroad, to take pride in their national identity instead of hiding it.

Earlier, Bauchi State Coordinator of NOA, Mrs. Theresa Omaga, shared that the agency plans to extend the campaign across all 20 local government areas in the state. The campaign will run concurrently at both state and local levels.