Fedmas Studios Chairman Dr. Sam Idiagbonya called for better infrastructure, clear funding rules, and teamwork to boost Abuja’s film sector.
Abuja-based movie producer and President of Fedmas Studios, Dr. Sam Idiagbonya, has called on government authorities, private investors, and movie practitioners to provide proper production infrastructure, open up transparent government funding processes, and build strong creative teamwork to help movie makers in the Federal Capital Territory grow.
The expert call to action was made public on Saturday, October 17, 2026, through a detailed industry interview. According to the studio chief, although the nation’s capital has good roads, fine hotels, quiet neighborhoods, and stable electricity in many areas, high costs of cameras and poor training facilities continue to hold back local movie makers.
Highlighting the global vision that every creative story writer and video director should have when working on new movie projects in Nigeria, Dr. Sam Idiagbonya stated: “My market is the world. Earth is my market.”
Addressing the serious confusion that often happens whenever government agencies announce special money funds for creative artists without clear application guidelines, the filmmaker urged administrators to always lay out open rules.
demanding clear rules, timelines, and open lists of real beneficiaries whenever public funds are announced, Idiagbonya stated: “If you tell creatives that there is a fund, they need to know the mechanism, the criteria, the timeline and who has benefited.”
Explaining why a lack of clear funding processes creates heavy fear and confusion for production houses planning big projects, the studio boss added that filmmaking requires substantial investment in equipment, personnel and post-production, adding that funding without transparent procedures could leave practitioners uncertain about how to develop their projects.
On the critical issue of technical skills, Dr. Sam Idiagbonya pointed out that holding a heavy camera or buying expensive lenses does not automatically transform an untrained worker into a professional cinematographer.
He stressed that the industry badly needs well-trained sound engineers, lighting technicians, and set designers to lift the picture quality of local movies.
Beyond government grants and technical training, the Fedmas Studios chief advised local movie makers in Abuja to stop fighting over personal ownership and learn how to work together in groups to share expensive equipment costs.
Stressing the vital importance of teamwork and honest feedback during scriptwriting and production stages, Idiagbonya stated: “The future of creativity is collaboration. You cannot do this alone. I could write a script for a month, and my team could spend weeks criticising it. That’s what makes the final product better.”
Describing the daily environmental difficulties that local creatives face when trying to shoot high budget films in the FCT, he noted: “Creatives need the freedom to experiment, fail, criticise, and try again. Then there are infrastructural deficits. Equipment is expensive, training remains a challenge, and filmmakers need more opportunities to justify investments in equipment.”
Pointing out the natural location advantages that make Abuja an attractive destination for big movie projects if well utilized, Idiagbonya added: “Abuja is a plus. We have relatively stable electricity in many areas, a serene environment, good hotels, accessibility, and relatively easy movement. The problem is that we don’t always take advantage of these advantages.”
Encouraging young filmmakers to use online video platforms like YouTube to display their work while aiming for big cinema screens and international streaming services, he explained: “Today, you may be on YouTube. Tomorrow, you may be in the cinema. The next day, you may be on Netflix or working with an international platform.”
Movie directors and creative groups across the Federal Capital Territory are calling for a unified national film festival in Abuja to connect local artists with international investors.
Jennifer Baba is a journalist, international news correspondent, and writer at Moderncrux, where she covers artificial intelligence, fintech, emerging technologies, global politics, and international affairs. Based in Nigeria, she is passionate about transforming complex global developments into clear, engaging stories that inform and inspire readers.
