NCC boss demands stronger action against piracy

The Director-General of the Nigerian Copyright Commission, Dr John Asein, on Tuesday called for increased support from security agencies to combat piracy and copyright infringement.

Dr Asein also said the NCC is battle-ready to win the war against piracy, which he described as “great economic sabotage,” and warned that the commission would not hesitate to respond forcefully to any criminals testing its resolve.

He condemned last Thursday’s mob attack on NCC officials and operatives of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps during a raid on bookshops suspected of selling pirated books in Sabo Market, Sagamu, vowing that all involved in the attack would face the law.

Asein made these remarks while speaking to journalists during visits to the state commands of the Nigeria Police, the Department of State Security, and the NSCDC in Abeokuta.

He said the visit aimed to thank security agencies for their support and to demand further collaboration to eliminate piracy.

Describing piracy as a serious threat to the nation’s economic prosperity, Dr Asein noted that it robs creators of their earnings, leads to the collapse of publishing houses, and causes job losses.

He explained: “This visit is essentially a quick response to what happened on Thursday last week when our officers and NSCDC operatives were resisted by some elements in Sabo Market, Sagamu, Ogun State, during an anti-piracy operation authorised from Abuja, based on complaints from publishers and authors.

“I felt I owed my officers and the supporting security personnel a duty to show up in solidarity, commend them, and send a strong message that we will not relent in this campaign against copyright pirates, whether online or offline.

“We will not relent, and every pushback from a gang of pirates will be met with appropriate force. In the Sagamu case, we will fish out the culprits and apply the law accordingly.”

Asein added: “For our security agencies, their service to the NCC affects the creative industry, including publishers, moviemakers, and musicians. Every effort they put in protects jobs and livelihoods. We urge them to continue supporting us in ridding the country of these criminals.

“To the public, I urge everyone to respect other people’s copyrights and support our creative industry so that Nigeria can remain a greater nation for our children. Embracing pirated works may be enticing, but what goes around comes around. Those engaging in piracy should know that the commission will not be intimidated and will respond forcefully if necessary.”

During the visits, Commissioner of Police Lanre Ogunlowo and NSCDC State Commandant Remi Ekundayo pledged increased collaboration with the NCC to tackle piracy. The Executive Secretary of the Nigeria Publishers Association, Mr Rotimi Iyiola, condemned the attack on the NCC team in Sagamu and called for public support to protect intellectual property.

The Sabo Market incident saw traders attack NCC officials led by Oyo State Coordinator Mrs Oluropo Oke, blocking the team from leaving with seized pirated books. The mob, reportedly led by a bookseller’s husband, threatened to burn operational vehicles, including one belonging to NSCDC.

Copyright infringement remains a persistent problem in Nigeria, driven by poverty, ignorance of the law, and increased digital access. While the NCC has achieved some success through physical raids and awareness initiatives like the Copyright Marshal Scheme, the rise of the internet presents new challenges. Efforts to combat piracy include the Copyright Act 2022 and collaborative enforcement with industry stakeholders to protect creative development.