The Nigerian Copyright Commission, NCC, conducted a major raid on Friday, targeting several bookshops in the Ajegunle boundary area of Lagos State.
The operation led to the seizure of pirated books with an estimated market value of ₦20 million.
Led by Mr. Charles Amudipe, Deputy Director and Head of Operations at the Lagos Office, the raid was supported by a team of copyright officers and security personnel. Mrs. Lynda Alphaeus, Director of the Lagos Office and representative of the NCC’s Director-General, Dr. John Asein, stated that the action is part of ongoing efforts to combat piracy nationwide.
“This raid is part of the Director-General’s mission to cleanse the market and rid the entire country of pirated books,” Alphaeus said. She emphasized the detrimental impact of piracy on publishers, authors, and the economy, reiterating the Commission’s zero-tolerance stance.
The operation focused on five suspected outlets along Ojora Lane and Calabar Road in Ajegunle. Alphaeus noted that, despite some shop owners’ attempts to resist, the security personnel ensured the operation proceeded smoothly.
She issued a stern warning to booksellers, schools, and printers about the consequences of engaging in piracy, highlighting that the offence carries severe legal penalties. Alphaeus also stressed the NCC’s commitment to intensified enforcement efforts over the past five years, vowing that no effort would be spared in tracking and prosecuting violators.
“The NCC’s action serves as a strong signal of its increased anti-piracy operations aimed at protecting intellectual property and supporting the Nigerian creative industry,” she concluded.
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On Thursday, NCC had announced plans to implement minimum documentation requirements for booksellers nationwide as part of its efforts to curb piracy. Dr. John Asein, made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Abuja.
According to Asein, the documentation exercise, which has already commenced in Abuja, will be extended to other states across the country. He explained that the commission is also working to ensure that online registration for booksellers is efficient and user-friendly. Once fully implemented, the regulation will be mandatory for all booksellers.
“Our goal is to have this in place by the beginning of next year,” Asein said. “We want to ensure that, as the next book season approaches, these measures are well established. Every printer, publisher, and bookseller must comply with our minimum documentation standards.”
The Director-General further disclosed plans to introduce anti-piracy measures, including the phased rollout of holograms on books. This initiative will begin on a voluntary basis, with an eventual assessment to determine which books will require compulsory hologram use. “The NCC is developing various models for this initiative in collaboration with publishers,” Asein stated. “We will procure and distribute the holograms or allow publishers to produce them under strict guidelines.”
He emphasized that the holograms would be uniformly formatted and meticulously tracked, making it easier for copyright officers to monitor the market and enforce anti-piracy laws effectively. “This will significantly aid our enforcement efforts and make our fight against piracy more efficient,” he added.
Asein also made a heartfelt appeal to those involved in piracy, urging them to stop. He highlighted the long-term damage caused by piracy, which undermines the livelihoods of authors and investors and hampers economic growth. “Piracy kills creativity,” he said. “Many authors have abandoned their work because of the impact of piracy. It steals from individuals and the economy. We must act now to protect our creative industry and prevent further harm.”
He concluded by stressing the importance of a collective fight against piracy to ensure the sustainability of Nigeria’s creative economy
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