The Founder of Doodle-Film Hub, Yinka Ade-Aluko, has called for the decentralisation of cinema infrastructure and reduction in ticket prices to unlock economic growth in Nigeria’s film industry.
In his analysis of the FilmOne 2025 Box Office Year Book, Ade-Aluko argued that while Nollywood enjoys global recognition for its creativity, its exhibition model remains narrow, expensive and urban-elite focused.
According to data cited from FilmOne Entertainment, Nigeria’s total cinema box office revenue stands at about N16 billion, with only 2.3 million admissions recorded in a country of roughly 250 million people. He described the figures as a reflection of limited access rather than weak demand.
Ade-Aluko noted that average ticket prices hover around N7,000, with some cinemas charging up to N15,000, making cinema outings unaffordable for many families and students. He warned that high pricing disrupts repeat attendance habits essential for a thriving cinema culture.
He also highlighted a production-exhibition imbalance, stating that although Nigeria reportedly produces about 2,000 films annually, only 81 local titles made it to cinemas during the reporting period. He added that foreign films, particularly from Hollywood and Bollywood, often outnumber Nigerian titles on local screens.
With only about 122 cinemas across Nigeria, Ghana, and Liberia combined mostly located in upscale malls — he said campuses, semi-urban communities and secondary cities remain underserved.
Ade-Aluko proposed decentralised, community-driven cinema models such as campus cinemas and mobile screenings, supported by flexible pricing and partnerships. He argued that expanding affordable exhibition infrastructure would generate broader employment, strengthen cultural influence and ensure more Nigerian films reach mass audiences.
“The future of Nigerian cinema may depend less on how many films are produced and more on how widely they are seen,” he said.
