Just a few days ago the London base Nollywood Movie director
Obi Emelonye posted something quite interesting through his Facebook saying “Just
been arrested with my team from the UK by Lagos TV for taking aerial shots of
Lagos around shoprite Ikeja; using remote helicopters. As a media house they
should understand what we are trying to do. But they want to put me in jail for
making Lagos look great”.
I would like to ask the general public if this is a bad news.
In-fact! I started with my friends and I got answers like these “Oh what a stupid
country” “Lawless and foolish Nigeria! Why the heck would he be arrested” The
most interesting were the comments Obi’s friends on Facebook made, like a guy
named Ilo said something like “Dumb country #they don’t know”
Seriously, I admire Obi Emeloye so much in-fact each time I
see him we always talk about his work and the passion for making African movies
great. He’s my role model, one of the best directors in the industry especially
here in London where there’s a lot of big mouthed money charging audition scam directors
and womanizers. Obi and a few others have set a difference as what a true movie
director should be. Respect!
I wouldn’t actually write this article but when I read
people’s comment I was forced to write something. This incident should serve as
a mirror to humanity. It’s not to soil Obi’s name but to review his case
whether what happened to him in Nigeria is good or bad from my own point of
few.
I mean am not trying to say it’s a good thing that he got
arrested obviously, he wouldn’t be happy about that neither am I. But for the sake
of health and safety and the people of Nigeria; I wouldn’t say its bad news
either.
Let the truth be told, would he fly a drone over London Bridge?
For the sake of trying to “make it look great” even in your own street where
you live in London I don’t think you can even do that.
Certain procedures have been laid down for one to follow
when it comes to filming with drones. Here in the UK, I know there’re certain standard
of drones that are allowed for filmmakers to use. Not just some toy eBay
version of remote helicopters that kids play with in the parks of London.
In the United Kingdom, Your drones must be up to standard;
the drone operator must be an aviation certified/licensed personal and the
people living around the area where the film drones will be used must be notified
by the police that drones will be used in filming in the area on a particular
date.
I could imagine the kind of remote helicopter that he was
using for the shot. Probably, the kind that a camera twice the size of the
drone; would then be glued or taped on it. According to my friend he would say “9ja
style”.
What he (Obi) did is
like giving a sports car to a first time driver; to drive around Lagos. As
lawless as it may be Nigeria is not a playground for people to test their dangerous
toys.
Imagine if the remote helicopter goes out of range and kills
someone? Or crashes into a house and sets
it ablaze. Those who have been there know how Lagos is it will be a disaster, couple
with the current security concerns of the state.
At that point, His Facebook friends who are cursing the
country now would start cursing him and his film/shots the once that “would
make Lagos look great” may never be seen and he will have more problems to
worry about than been arrested. And guys like me would write some serious stuff
about Him.
In the United Kingdom, he will be charged for negligence, ignorance
of the Law, attempting murder, illegal filming, illegal operation of drones and
his production would be considered a risk for human safety; this could land him
and his a team in jail for a very long time.
I was even surprise that he got arrested in Nigeria for
using drones. I would have said well done to the authorities for doing the
right thing until he posted the second one few minutes later saying “we have
just been released by the state governor’s security details….” Ha! Typical Nigeria.
Okay, let’s say he successfully does his aerial shots and gets
back to London; which I pray for. Other directors based in Nigeria would like
to follow suit. It will be even worst cause in their own case most of them can’t
even afford the eBay sold drones they will end up constructing some “Obunigwe” (local
drones) which before it gets to perfection (probably in ten years’ time) a lot of
disasters must have occurred; just imagine the chaos that will result to.
With the rate Nollywood produce’s movies, soon drones will start
falling from the sky like rain drops. Then it will be too late to make amends,
but if he and his team had followed the right procedures I bet they wouldn’t be
arrested.
And if only the authorities would not be biased and do the
right things and we Nigerians follow the law as it is written Nigeria would be
much better as it is today.
The People make the country great! Let’s stop cursing
Nigeria because we are Nigeria! The problem of a nation dose not rest on the
nation but on its people.
Good Luck Obi! With your thing but please think
safety first and follow the rules. Author: Seeks to be Anonymous.
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