Director Bamidele Balogun Has Been Suspended By Governor Sanwo-Olu For Imposing 5% Levy On All Visual and Audio Content

The Secretary of the Lagos State Film and Sensor Board, Bamidele Balogun who announced the imposure of 5% levy on all video and audio content earlier this week, and which autonomy has been sent to some of the streaming plaform, like Iroko TV. Has been suspended by the Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwolu, with a reason that he was not authorised to make such announcement.

The Lagos State Minister of Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotosho also reacted to the announcement stating that, the Sanwo-Olu administration is not insensitive to the fact that creative industry has been badly hitted by the effect of the Covid-19 pandemic and empathises with this and other sector of the economy.

Here is the statement:

“There is no levy on audio and visual contents of all physical and digital platforms in Lagos State. The Executive Secretary, Lagos State Film and Video Censors Board, Mr. Bamidele Balogun, is said to have announced a five per cent levy.

“The government hereby dissociates itself from the said announcement in the media. The Executive Secretary, who was not authorised to make such an announcement, has been suspended, pending an administrative enquiry.”