NCC Cracks Down on Piracy
NCC Cracks Down on Piracy: The Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) has made a significant seizure of three shipping containers containing 3000 cartons of
pirated books, valued at over N300 million. This announcement was made by the Director-General of the commission,
Dr. John Asein, in a press statement released on Sunday in Abuja. The containers were intercepted at
Onne Port, Rivers State, in collaboration with NCC enforcement partners, including the Nigeria Customs Service
(NCS) and the State Security Service (SSS). The pirated books, belonging to renowned Nigerian publishers such as
Africana First, Bounty Press, Evans, Learn Africa, Macmillan, Metropolitan, and University Press Plc, were found to infringe copyright laws.
the pirated books
Dr. Asein expressed concern over the increasing importation of pirated books from Asia, which closely resemble
original copies in quality, making detection more challenging. He highlighted the audacity of these pirates, who
often scout for business opportunities in Nigeria and engage in deceptive practices to evade enforcement agencies.
The NCC is collaborating with Customs to introduce an online pre-import certification scheme to curb illicit imports while ensuring the ease of doing business.
Importers, clearing agents, booksellers, and warehouse owners are urged to exercise due diligence and ensure
proper documentation to avoid involvement in piracy-related activities. Dr. Asein emphasized the
commission’s commitment to holding accountable anyone found with pirated books, whether as primary or secondary suspects. With the support of partnering agencies and right owners’ cooperation, the NCC vows to intensify enforcement efforts against copyright piracy.
The copyright
Dr. Asein noted the strengthened copyright statute in Nigeria, which imposes stiffer penalties for criminal infringements,
including the power to seal premises, pursue proceeds of crimes, and deal with suspected materials summarily.
He applauded the new Nigeria Customs Service Act, 2023, which explicitly authorizes the service to detain, arrest,
and seize infringing materials. The successful seizure sends a strong message to importers and copyright predators
about the government’s determination to combat piracy. Right owners are encouraged to adopt proactive
measures and share intelligence with the commission to identify illicit materials effectively.
Regarding the seized books, Emeka Ogbonna, NCC director legal, explained that the main suspects behind the importation are yet to be apprehended, and their arrest and subsequent prosecution will determine the fate of the seized books.