Comedian and filmmaker Basketmouth has accused Nollywood producers of misusing funds provided by international streaming platforms. Speaking in an interview on Arise TV, he alleged that producers often spend just 10% of the allocated budgets on actual movie production while using the rest for personal expenses.
According to Basketmouth, some producers even found ways to exploit actors when streaming platforms decided to pay them directly to ensure fair compensation. "These producers would still go behind the scenes and demand the actors return half of the money. You can verify this information anywhere," he said.
He claimed this dishonest practice has significantly hurt the quality of Nollywood films. "When you misuse funds, how can you expect your movies to reach 100% quality? It's impossible. Instead, they buy houses and cars, which is why some of our epic movies look like stage plays," he added.
Basketmouth’s remarks come shortly after filmmaker Kunle Afolayan revealed that Netflix has stopped commissioning Nigerian originals. Afolayan warned that this decision could negatively impact the livelihoods of producers who depend on such projects.
This growing concern highlights issues of transparency and accountability in Nollywood, as the industry struggles to balance creative integrity with financial management.
