Plan Drug Abuse Sensitization Seminar
The newly registered Rivers State Entertainment Practitioners, are calling on members of the public to take entertainers seriously in the society. The month of November 2024, the group got official registration with the Corporate Affairs Commission of Nigeria. Speaking at a Breakfast Meeting held on Tuesday 11th of February, 2025 with Media Executives, the Acting Coordinator, Honourable Tekina Iyalla a stand-up comedian and radio entertainment programme presenter, asked Media outfits in Rivers State to designate certain segments of their programmes for Entertainment News. He reiterated the need for corporate organizations to come in to collaborate with Rivers State Entertainment Practitioners as it will create mutual benefits for all.
“Today, we organized a Breakfast Meeting, between us and Executives of Media Houses. The reason for this, is simple and that is to foster unity between our association and the Media Houses. The major part of it is that we all understand that for us to succeed, we must have an adequate support and collaborations with the media because they are our major stakeholders. And today, we had a very fruitful deliberations as we were able to talk to ourselves seeking different ways forward. And we hope that whatever we have discussed, these Media houses will take back to their CEOs and Head of News to implement some of the communiques and few points that we have just enumerated.”
On the enlightenment Seminar to disuade artists from using illicit drugs to enhance their performances, Mr Iyalla said “That is our Pet Project that we’re working on. I will like to inform all of us that we just came into existence last year November 1st, 2024. And we want to put things in order first. We will look at the struncture on ground and get acquainted with our stakeholders. Our major Pet-Project is the one day sensitization programme on the wrong Use of Drugs and it’s effect on the entertainment Industry in Rivers state, It is a big one as we’re going to be expecting top guests and representatives from the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency NDLEA, representatives from Nigerian Medical Association NMA representatives from the Ministry of Health and from the Nigerian Police. Also from the Nigerian Immigration. Basically, it’s for us the entertainers in Rivers State, to talk to ourselves and look at it from that positive angle that there’s nothing drugs can do for an entertainer. Some of us have this wrong notion that when we take these drugs, they enhance our productivity. In the local parlance they boost our morale,” but that’s wrong. These are all wrong narratives. We want to make sure that we get things back on track and let our people re-orientate the younger ones to understand that being an entertainers is not about taking drugs.
On the Rivers State demand that entertainers in the state should pay for Entertainment Tax, he responded “We are not saying that we’re not going to pay Entertainment tax, but in every association or in every society, we need to let people know what we want, Like I said , that particular Tax budget is archaic, it is mundane. We decided to find out what the tax is all about. We told the Chairman of Rivers State Board of Internal Revenue, RSIBR, that we’re not against it . But if you want to take tax from us let us understand what we’re paying for and what the Government is bringing to the table for us. We also expect them to create an enabling business ground for us. These are the things we have to discuss and graciously too. His Excellency the Executive Governor of Rivers State saw reasonable thinking from where we’re coming from. And he asked that the Tax be suspended until some necessary things are put in place. The Governor, is a good man, You know that there’s reconstruction work now going on in Port Harcourt’s Tourists Beach, So, that place will become an entertainment destination soon. These are the things that we’re asking for, creating enabling environment for the entertainers to thrieve. We are paying taxes, for anybody to put up a show you will pay tax, you pay Snagged Fee, you pay the Advertisement Board and the ones that are not visible. If I have to put up a show, around Stadium Road, Community will come and Elekahia Boys will come and we will pay them. Even Rain Makers will come saying “Bros, na your show today, we’ll call rain ooo. So, we are paying tax and we’re not afraid at all”
-Emeka Amaefula
+24(0)8111813069
