Sani Mu'azu is the current president of the Motion Picture Practioners Association of Nigeria (MOPPAN), an umbrella body of the northern film industry. For the first time after the nude video scandal, he opened up to the media. In this chat with Al-Amin Ciroma, he discussed his organisation's stand on the matter and the way forward for the industry, among other issues. Excerpts:

How did you receive the news of the nude video scandal?

Well, I recieved the news with mixed feelings. I did not really know the details of the matter. My first reaction was, it is not possible for any artist from this part of the country to make a pornographic film? I still feel that way. This is because no matter what, we are guided by the dictates of our religion, Islam, and the values of our society. Even the worst among us is equally conscious of having parents, in-laws, sisters etc. That is why I felt it was not possible. My second reaction was, even if it was possible, then it was done under the influence of alcohol or some drugs. You know film-making is not a solo project, where even one person can handle everything without prying eyes. Film involves a whole team of people, cast and crew. It is difficult to assemble Hausa people who will all agree to engage in pornographic films.

Do you think the steps taken by Kano State Film-makers will restore the situation?

Yes, it is a massive one. It formed the nucleus of something positive. That is the reason why, when we held an extra-ordinary meeting on the issue, I mean the national office of MOPPAN, we endorsed both the decisions of the Kano Film-makers and that of the Kano Censors Board. The national office added the suspension of film making for three months to enable us to take inventory of the industry, but especially, to tackle moral issues within it and put proper structures for the administration of the industry, guided by the proper code of ethics. That's what we are doing right now.

So far, mass expulsion has been the order of the day in Kano, what is your view on the matter?

The suspension placed on some actors and actresses is being reviewed by a committee headed by Ibrahim Mandawari, with Dr Sarari as its secretary. This committee gives room for any stakeholder who is accused of wrongdoing to come before it and defend himself. We just formed a similar committee under Abubakar Sani and Abdul-Abdul in Jos. We hope to encourage all the northern states to do the same. You know, we are certain that sex related issues may not be the problem, but these committees are bound to uncover other issues that have to do with indiscipline and confidence enhancement drugs. These committees are important.

Since the advent of the scandal, MOPPAN has not uttered a word. Why the silence?

MOPPAN decided to swing into action immediately. We liased with the local guilds like I said earlier. What we did not do is aggrevate the situation. You know we are a national association. The moment we give the issue more media attention, we will be doing more damage to the thing we are trying to protect. But we've been key actors in the search for resolutions to our problems.

Any observation on the Special Screen Committee?

The committee is made up of serious minded film-makers. I have confidence in Mandawari. He has been one of the major pillars of this journey. Certainly, he will not do anything to bring down what he is helping to build. Moreso, there are two national officers of MOPPAN in the committee, Dr Ahmed Sarari and Hajiya Baraba Ramat. I believe they will give sound recommendations. At the film-makers level, I have serious respect for the Film-makers' Association chairman, Saidu Gwanja. He comes across as a person that truly wants the growth of film too.

The Hausa film industry is presently in shambles and is currently suffering indignity of different scandals. A lot of controversies are sorrounding it from different angles and people are expressing their respective ideas. You are the president of the umbrella body of the film-makers in the north, what are your plans towards restoring Kannywood's dignity and prospects?

I have mentioned earlier that we intend to deal with morality and unprofessional conduct matters. We are also working with other stakeholders such as the National Film and Video Censors Board to see how we can set up a film village in Kano. This structure is very important. As the president of MOPPAN, this is one feat I will like to see achieved before the end of my tenure. AlhamduliLahi, the Kano State government, through the office of the Censors Board and the Information ministry are also working on this idea. You know, a film centre may seem distant from what is happening now, but no, it is a central issue. If a girl leaves her, home to become an actress, where does she go? She heads to Kano and most often than not, fall into the wrong hands. The result is this kind of scandal. Now, imagine there is a film centre, a kind of school were talents are harnessed, where the ethics of the profession can be propagated and where checks are in place. With this in mind, we shall restore the diginity of the Hausa film industry.

Could you discuss extensively on film production in north, particularly about achieving the new goals set by the Motion Picture Council of Nigeria (MOPICON).

The Motion Picture Council of Nigeria is one of the efforts of the federal government to control film practice, just like APCON is to advertisement practitioners. I am a member of the steering committee. The committee submitted its report to the former Information minister, and I am aware that the draft law was approved during the last Council On Information meeting in Enugu. The NFC is midwifing the development. When this council comes into full operations, developments within the film subsector of the economy will have a more national outlook. As it is, the tripod is spread along regional lines and this is not good for growth and development. Now, we are hoping that the new Information minister will present this matter before NEC for onward presentation to the National Assembly to be passed as a law. We are also waiting on the NFC to facilitate a National Film Convention in Abuja, so that we will start merging different sructures to have a national one. Already, NFC is maintaining a MOPICON desk with an officer in Jos.

Let me tell you, film-making in the north is more sanitised than film-making anywhere else. There is no cause for alarm. This actress, Maryam Hiyana, did no harm to film-making. What she did was in her personal private time, recorded for private use. As Muslims, we know that there are crimes that are left for Allah Subahanahu wa Taala to judge, not us. Film-making has done a lot to bring to fore some of our socio-economic and cultural problems in the north. Films have not only exposed these problems, they have also provided solutions to some of them. Films are in the forefront of explaining the Shari'a to people, much more effectively than direct preaching.

Film should be encouraged by all and sundry, because if our children don't watch our films, they will end up watching films from film-makers we cannot control. They will evolve characteristics we cannot control.