Lagos state government will set up cinemas in every local government area according to official sources. As much as I commend this plan to boost the Nigerian film industry, I hope they have not copied my Screen Naija One Village, One Cinema Project since I gave them the plan long before they came up with their own plan which is also similar to what Tunde Kelani has been doing to take his movies to the people. Before you set up cinemas in every local government area, you must train those who will run them. Cinemas are more than viewing centres. The operators need to be trained, otherwise the cinemas will not be of much benefit to the communities. Many of the local movies showing at the cinemas in Nigeria are teleplays. And they are like school dramas simply recorded in video. As Prof. Femi Shaka said, Nollywood movies are like stage dramas in video, because majority of the producers did not study film. The Lagos state government must also make sure the movies are not the same junk we see on TV like the Yoruba movies with terrible subtitles that you wonder if the producers ever went to school or are intellectually re-tarded. A viewing centre is not a movie theatre. The movie theatre culture is an integral part of human development. The socio-cultural development of a community has a great impact on the socioeconomic and sociopolitical development of the community. Therefore, the Lagos state government must understand these facts before they put up viewing centres in local government areas.

then again, the conundrum begs, how would these be maintained? by the LG chairmen? this idea is dead on arrival.

redcliff: then again, the conundrum begs, how would these be maintained? by the LG chairmen? this idea is dead on arrival.

It is going to be in partnership with entrepreneurs like the Freedom Park on Broad Street.

At first I said huh? But after thinking about it, I found out it will not only generate money for the government but also empower Nollywood and Yoruwood financially.

Problem will be management, safety, cost and piracy.

Fact remains that an average Nigerian would rather buy a pirated copy of N100 than going to watch a movie in cinema for N500 and above.

Cinema in Nigeria so far is a luxury only above average Nigerians can afford.
This idea will not sell for now.

Nuzo':
At first I said huh? But after thinking about it, I found out it will not only generate money for the government but also empower Nollywood and Yoruwood financially.

Problem will be management, safety, cost and piracy.

Fact remains that an average Nigerian would rather buy a pirated copy of N100 than going to watch a movie in cinema for N500 and above.

Cinema in Nigeria so far is a luxury only above average Nigerians can afford.
This idea will not sell for now.

Your points are valid.
But if Nigerian movies can make over $1m annually at the few cinemas in Nigeria, then imagine how much they will make at more cinemas spread all over the cities and towns.