The National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB) has stepped forward to justify its initial clearance of the Nollywood production A Very Dirty Christmas, asserting that the film’s title passed through a rigorous vetting process which confirmed it does not disparage the Christian faith.
Dr. Shaibu Husseini, the Executive Director of the NFVCB, provided this clarification on Wednesday, the 23rd of December, 2025, through a series of official statements on X. The move follows a wave of public condemnation from the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and other religious organizations, who argued the title was disrespectful to the sanctity of the holiday.
Defending the board’s decision, Husseini explained that the title was evaluated based on the creative vision of the filmmakers and the specific narrative context of the movie. He noted that regulators viewed the phrasing as a symbolic literary device rather than a literal description of the religious event.
“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, and not as an ascription of impropriety to Christmas as a sacred Christian event,” he said.
The Executive Director emphasized that the board analyzed the title as a component of the overarching storyline and themes, rather than a direct statement on the religion itself. He further clarified that the film contains no content visual or verbal that mocks the birth of Jesus Christ, the nativity, or any fundamental Christian tenets.
“There is no scene, dialogue, or imagery within the film that ridicules Christian worship or theology. In line with established regulatory principles, the NFVCB places significant emphasis on context and intent over isolated literary or semantic interpretations when exercising its statutory mandate,” he added.
Despite the initial approval, Husseini revealed that the NFVCB has entered into discussions with the film’s producers to address the grievances voiced by the Christian community. He noted that the board has advised a modification or “stylisation” of the title to soothe public tensions while still protecting the “creative integrity and exploitation of the work.”
Husseini pointed out that such adjustments following a film’s release are a recognized practice in the global industry. He cited the 2019 Indian film Judgemental Hai Kya, which underwent a name change following pushback from mental health advocates, as a precedent for this type of regulatory intervention.
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The NFVCB head maintained that this responsive approach aligns with the NFVCB Act, which seeks to prevent social friction and religious misunderstandings.
“Though engagement is ongoing, we are pleased to report that the producers are responding positively, and steps that will eventually be taken will be consistent with preserving goodwill among stakeholders and audiences,” Husseini said.
The controversy began with the debut of A Very Dirty Christmas, a project produced by prominent actress Ini Edo. The title immediately drew fire from Archbishop Daniel Okoh of CAN and other leaders, who contended that pairing the word “dirty” with “Christmas” was an offensive desecration of a holy season.
While the producers have maintained that the title is a symbolic reference to family secrets and moral dilemmas explored in the film, they have reportedly expressed a willingness to cooperate with the board’s new directives. As the dialogue continues, the movie remains available in cinemas across the country.