The Nigerian Copyright Commission on Friday, seized pirated books valued at an estimated N20 million in a major crackdown in bustling Ajegunle area of Lagos.
This comes as NCC orchestrated a significant raid targeting bookshops suspected of distributing pirated materials in the bustling Ajegunle Boundary area of Lagos State.
The PUNCH reported that the operation was led by Deputy Director and Head of Operations at the Lagos Office, Mr. Charles Amudipe, with the assistance of a specialized team of copyright officers and security personnel.
According to Mrs. Lynda Alphaeus, Director of the Lagos Office and representative of the NCC’s Director-General, Dr. John Asein, this raid represents part of the Commission’s ongoing commitment to uproot piracy nationwide.
Mrs. Alphaeus remarked on the broader goals of the raid, saying, “This raid is part of the Director-General’s mission to cleanse the market and rid the entire country of pirated books.”
She highlighted the detrimental impact of piracy on publishers, authors, and the economy, emphasizing the NCC’s firm stance against all forms of copyright infringement. “Piracy has been a major issue affecting publishers, authors, and the economy, and the Commission has a zero-tolerance policy towards all forms of copyright infringement,” she added.
This particular operation honed in on five suspected locations on Ojora Lane and Calabar Road, both situated within Ajegunle’s market area.
As Alphaeus explained, “During the operation, we inspected several bookshops and storage warehouses suspected of housing pirated books around the Ajegunle market. Items identified as pirated materials were seized.”
The operation faced minor resistance as some shop owners attempted to hinder the efforts of the NCC team.
However, with support from security personnel, the raid proceeded without major disturbances, enabling the officers to complete their task efficiently.
“Piracy is a punishable offence, and anyone found guilty will face the full extent of the law,” Alphaeus warned, reiterating the Commission’s stance against copyright violations.
She also noted that the NCC has ramped up its enforcement actions over the past five years, reflecting a zero-tolerance approach that has led to increased scrutiny and more frequent crackdowns on copyright infringements.
Alphaeus assured that the NCC is unrelenting in its pursuit, with every intention of prosecuting offenders, regardless of their status or location.
She urged all bookshop operators, schools, and printing firms to ensure they handle only legitimate, licensed materials.
“The NCC’s action serves as a strong signal of its intensified anti-piracy operations aimed at protecting intellectual property and supporting the Nigerian creative industry,” Alphaeus stated, pointing to the Commission’s commitment to safeguarding the interests of Nigerian authors, publishers, and other stakeholders in the creative sector.
