Netflix responds to claims of leaving Nigeria, declares stance

• During a candid discussion, the filmmaker hinted at the unsettling possibility of Netflix, the global streaming giant, scaling back its operations in Nigeria.
• He revealed that some major commissioned projects by the platform had been abruptly canceled.
• This revelation struck a nerve with Nigerian movie enthusiasts, who have grown increasingly attached to Netflix as a gateway to high-quality Nollywood content.
• Netflix finally broke its silence through a top media outlet to address the swirling rumors.

Netflix, the global titan of video streaming, has officially shut down swirling rumors suggesting it might be packing its bags and exiting Nigeria.

The speculation, which had sent shockwaves through the Nigerian entertainment industry, gained traction following a viral revelation by renowned filmmaker Kunle Afolayan.

In a widely shared video, Afolayan disclosed that Netflix had reportedly canceled several commissioned projects, leaving many to wonder about the company’s long-term commitment to Nollywood.

He expressed disappointment that, despite the global success of Nollywood films, Netflix appeared dissatisfied with their local returns.

In response to the uproar, Netflix finally addressed the speculation through an email sent to Punch via their public relations agency, Hill and Knowlton Strategies.

Edafe Onoriode, the Group Account Director, reiterated the company’s unwavering commitment to Nigeria’s creative industry.

He emphasized that Netflix had no plans to withdraw from Nollywood, instead reaffirmed its dedication to nurturing the industry’s immense potential.

“We are not exiting Nigeria. We will continue to invest in Nigerian stories to delight our members,” Netflix spokesperson stated.

For years, Netflix has been a key player in transforming Nollywood into a global powerhouse, beginning its partnership with the industry in 2016 by acquiring distribution rights for fan-favorite films.

This collaboration quickly evolved, leading to the production of original Nigerian content, most notably Top Actress and Filmmaker, Genevieve Nnaji’s Lionheart, the groundbreaking first Nigerian Netflix original.