One of the year's biggest movies and a source of pride for many South Africans, 'District 9' is not welcome in Nigeria.

The sci-fi morality tale, which mirrors the era of apartheid in South Africa, has been slammed by Nigeria's information minister as it portrays Nigerians as gangsters and cannibals.

Information Minister Dora Akunyili has asked cinemas in the Nigerian capital of Abuja to stop screening 'District 9' because the film "portrays Nigeria in bad light". She is also insisting that copies of 'District 9' are confiscated.

Akunyili says that she has asked Sony Entertainment for an apology, as well as to have all references to Nigeria edited out of the film. She also insists that the name of the main Nigerian gangster Obesandjo ? whose name resembles that of former Nigerian president Olusegun Obasanjo ? is removed.

In one scene Obasanja, tries to cut off and eat the arm of the film's protagonist in an attempt to gain supernatural powers. In another, Nigerian prostitutes are seen appealing to alien customers.

Akunyili is not the only Nigerian to be upset with the film.

A group on Facebook called "Nigerians Offended by District 9" has sprung up, which had 797 members on 22 September, denouncing the movie as being 'racist' and 'xenophobic'.

Local film critics, however, say that the Nigeria's government has overreacted to the film, with Theresa Smith of The Star saying that 'District 9', as a satire, purposefully played on stereotypes. "It's playing into the ideas we have of the Other," she said.

The filmmakers have declined to comment on the matter.

'District 9' was directed by South African-born Neill Blomkamp and was produced by Peter Jackson of 'Lord of the Rings' fame. The film grossed over R275-million in its opening weekend.