Nigeria off US list of countries high in piracy —NCC boss

Nigeria is off the United States 301 countries listed as not seriously tackling piracy, the Director-General of the Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC), Mr Afam Ezekude, has said.

The Director-General made the disclosure in Abuja, on Thursday, at a briefing on the 2015 World Book and Copyright Day.

According to him, this was not far fetched from its extensive enforcement operations conducted across the country.

Giving his statistics, he said, so far, over six million quantities of assorted pirated copyright works worth N6 billion had been withdrawn from circulation.

In addition, he said over 700 million units of pirated copyright works, comprising musical, literary, film works valued at N6 billion was also publicly burnt.

He also submitted that the commission had secured 53 criminal convictions against copyright offenders, while about 172 criminal copyright and civil cases are ongoing.

Speaking on the initiated idea of reforming the Copyright Acts, which is still being processed at the National Assembly, he said this will enable the commission to effectively tackle digital and other forms of piracy, hence, provide for stiffer penalties for offenders.

He, however, urged Nigerians to support the commission in ensuring that the incidence of piracy is completely wiped out of the country.

“The commission embarked on various intensive copyright awareness campaigns across the country, including schools sensitisation, advocacy visits, mass education via the media and stakeholders' consultations.

“As we celebrate the World Book and Copyright Day and the World intellectual property day, the commission enjoins Nigerians to support it in ensuring that all forms of creative works are protected to enable creators benefit from their creativity,” he said.