Netflix Denies Reports of Leaving Nigeria Amid Speculations
Contrary to reports circulating online, Netflix, the global leader in video streaming services, has unequivocally denied plans to exit Nigeria. The speculations arose following a now-viral video by renowned Nigerian filmmaker, Kunle Afolayan, where he shared his disappointment and frustration with Netflix’s sudden cancellation of commissioned projects.
Afolayan recalled signing a three-film deal with Netflix three years ago, citing the excitement surrounding the opportunity. However, he expressed dismay that despite the films’ global success, Netflix seemed dissatisfied with their local returns.
According to Afolayan, the abrupt cancellation of commissioned projects had a devastating impact on filmmakers who were also working on similar projects at the same time. Thankfully, Afolayan’s team had already completed the second and third seasons, which had been commissioned earlier.
Despite this setback, Netflix has assured the public that it remains committed to investing in Nigerian stories and creative talent. In a statement, Edafe Onoriode, Group Account Director at Netflix’s public relations agency, Hill and Knowlton Strategies, clarified the company’s stance: “We are not exiting Nigeria and will continue to invest in Nigerian stories to delight our members.”
Netflix’s partnership with Nollywood began in 2016 and has grown significantly since then. Initially, the company acquired the distribution rights for popular films, before venturing into original content production, such as Genevieve Nnaji’s Lionheart, the first Nigerian Netflix original.
