The Nigerian Copyright Commission says effective border control, intelligence sharing and coordinated enforcement are critical to protecting Nigeria’s creative industry.
The Commission’s Director-General, John Asein, stated this during a one-day capacity-building programme for officers of the Nigeria Customs Service and the Nigerian Copyright Commission in Kaduna.
The training, organised for Customs and copyright personnel in Kaduna, focused on enforcement techniques and the identification of suspected pirated goods.
It was aimed at strengthening the capacity of both institutions to enforce copyright laws and protect the rights of creators.
Represented by the Director of the Nigerian Copyright Academy, Olufunmilayo Adewale, the Director-General noted that piracy remains a major threat to Nigeria’s creative economy.
He explained that the Copyright Act 2022 provides the legal framework for copyright protection and enforcement in Nigeria, stressing that the law must be translated into effective action against piracy and the illicit trade in copyright-protected goods.
The Acting Public Relations Officer of the Federal Operations Unit, Zone B, Nigeria Customs Service, Muhammad Usman Balarabe, described the programme as important to cooperation between the two agencies.
He said it would improve understanding of operational procedures and strengthen collaboration between the Commission and Customs during enforcement operations.
The Commission expressed confidence that the training would strengthen cooperation between both institutions and improve enforcement against copyright piracy.
It also reaffirmed its commitment to working with the Nigeria Customs Service and other stakeholders to protect the rights of Nigerian creators.
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Editor: Ada Ononye
