A House of Reps member and popular entrepreneur, Hon. Akin Alabi, has expressed his fears on the continued closure of the Cinema industry in Nigeria, saying the Industry will go under again, if they remained closed, due to the fears of coronavirus.
The Honourable who frowned at how both State and Federal Government have ignored the Cinema industry in their plans to reopen the economy, even after the partial suspension of COVID-19 lockdown, questioned the reasons why the sector is being overlooked. He said:
“The cinema industry will die if we do not allow them to open. The economy is practically opened. Malls, places of worship etc are opened. These new cinemas practically re-created the industry. They are not there yet. They need support. It’s unfair to them,” he said.
Honourable Akin Alabi who also goes by the name ‘Ololye’ and who represents Egbeda/Ona-Ara Federal Constituency Oyo State, at the Green Chamber of the National Assembly, taking to his official Twitter handle on Friday 14th August 2020, put out a series of tweets calling for the Cinema industry to be reopened, so as to avoid a total collapse of the cinema business in Nigeria, that is still at its infant stage.
He continued by adding:
“It’s no longer making sense that cinemas are still closed. They have assured the government and the public that they are ready to open at less than half capacity. Planes are flying full capacity. Parties are going on. Don’t let me mention rallies.
I can imagine owning a cinema and my rent/lease keeps running but I’m not allowed to operate when practically all sectors of the economy have opened,” he said.
Oloye Akin Alabi did not only call out the Government for trying to kill the Cinema Industry in Nigeria, but he also lashed out at Nigerian celebrities especially those in the Nollywood industry for keeping quiet.
He said it is surprising to see stars and producers who have made so much from the Cinema industry not speaking up for the reopening of Cinema houses, despite seeing that every other business and worship centres have been allowed to open. He said:
“I am surprised that the film stars and producers who have benefited from the box office phenomenon haven’t lent their support the opening of cinemas opening with their huge social media presence and relationship with those in high places. They should do more”, he added.
For a state like Lagos state for instance, which has been the epic centre of the novel coronavirus, it is understandable why the government is taking its time to allow for a gradual return to normalcy.
The State Government from their daily up dates, seems to be on top of situations especially as regarding businesses, as they are still consulting with business owners, and doing everything possible for them to reopen.