Nigeria: NCC seizes pirated works worth N926 million in Lagos.
Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) revealed on Thursday 14 September 2017 that the organisation has seized pirated materials worth an estimated N926 million ($2.572 million) in the last eight months in the Lagos metropolis alone. This is according to a report by Vanguard.
The revelation was made by Obi Ezeilo, Zonal Manager of the Commission, Lagos Office, in an interview with newsmen on Thursday 14 September 2017 in Lagos.
The NCC member said that the seizures were made between January and August 2017 in several locations within the city and the materials seized included cinematographic works, literary works, CDs and video CDs, according to Nigerian Communications Week.
“NCC has scaled up its enforcement activities in the last eight months and we have seized pirated items to the tune of over N926 million, removed from containers at Apapa Port, warehouses and shops. So, in terms of enforcement and prosecution, things have dramatically changed over the last eight months and the creative industry should be well aware of that,” said Ezelio.
He also revealed that 12 suspected pirates were arrested in the last eight months while 21 pending cases are in court.
He said that the Commission had also closed case files of seven of the suspected pirates. Ezeilo said that three containers of pirated materials were seized at Apapa Terminal Port and in seven warehouses in Mushin, Ajegunle, Surulere and Amuwo-Odofin.
He said that the commission would introduce a new legislation to strengthen the fight against piracy in the country.
“The draft copyright bill is undergoing fine-tuning at the office of the Attorney-General. We are hoping that when the new bill becomes law, it will help to make the copyright industry more vibrant, encourage more creativity and address the issue of piracy on the internet. These are the sort of things we are hoping to achieve so that the industry will become a more vibrant industry and contribute more to the economy and the GDP of the country."
Edited by Dean Workman
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