NCC seizes N300m worth of pirated books at Onne Port

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The Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) has made a significant seizure of pirated books, valued at over N300 million, at the Onne Port in Rivers State.

According to a press statement released by the Director-General of the NCC, Dr. John Asein, the raid involved three shipping containers packed with a total of 3,000 cartons of copyrighted materials. Asein emphasized the collaborative effort with enforcement partners, including the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and the Department of State Services (DSS), in intercepting the illegal import.

The DG disclosed that the copyrights of the pirated books belong to frontline Nigerian publishers: Africana First, Bounty Press, Evans, Learn Africa, Macmillan, Metropolitan and University Press Plc.

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He said, “Our main headache used to be with locally printed books which are easy to identify due to their poor production quality.

“But, we have since seen a surge in the importation of pirated books, especially from Asia with good quality, competing with their originals.

“Many of these pirates, who are agents of foreign printers, now have the audacity to come into Nigeria to scout for businesses.

“Sometimes, they share lists of their pirated stock with prospective customers in Nigeria through rogue networks.

“In some cases, the imports are compromised, and the documentation doctored to deceive enforcement agencies.”

The NCC highlighted its commitment to protecting intellectual property rights while ensuring a smooth business environment. Dr. Asein stressed the importance of working with Customs to implement an online pre-import certification scheme. This initiative aims to identify and prevent the import of illicit copyright materials like pirated books.

The statement also served as a warning to those involved in the trade of pirated books. The NCC emphasized that anyone found with copies of pirated books would be held accountable, including importers, clearing agents, booksellers, and warehouse owners.

This seizure represents a major step by the NCC in combating piracy within Nigeria’s book industry. It underscores the commission’s dedication to safeguarding the rights of authors and publishers while promoting a healthy and legal book market in the country.