In a sweeping operation to combat book piracy, the Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) has seized books worth an estimated N23.1 million from bookshops in Uyo.
The raid, carried out on Saturday, targeted several bookshops accused of selling pirated books.
Bookshops affected in the raid included AB Achison Bookshop, God’s Own Bookshop, Academic Needs Bookshop, Zion Bookshop in Uyo metropolis, and POP Bookshop in Abak, Akwa Ibom.
The Director General of NCC, Dr. John Asein, confirmed that the raid was part of the commission’s ongoing efforts to curb piracy across Nigeria.
He stated that book piracy remains a major threat to the country’s publishing industry, adding that the NCC is committed to stamping it out.
“Our mission is to rid Nigeria of pirated books and establish a sound copyright system,” Dr. Asein said.
Leading the operation was Mr. Macfoy Akachukwu, the Deputy Director of Operations at the NCC, who represented Dr. Asein during the raid.
According to Akachukwu, the NCC has received numerous complaints about the sale of pirated books in Uyo, prompting the agency to take action.
“Piracy robs authors of their rightful earnings and discourages creativity,” Akachukwu explained.
Books by Top Publishers Confiscated
During the raid, the NCC seized a variety of popular school textbooks, many of which are staples in Nigerian secondary schools.
The seized books included Basic Civic Education by Dr. Merry Ukaegbu, Spectrum New Further Mathematics by T.R. Moses, and Essential Christian Religious Study for Senior Secondary Schools by Orovwuje B.O. and Okolie E.U.
Other confiscated titles included Macmillan Brilliant English for Junior Secondary Schools by Wale Ossianwo and New General Basic Science for Junior Secondary Schools by S. Ajayi.
Akachukwu disclosed that most of the seized books were copies of works published by reputable publishers such as Evans, UPL, Lantern, Longman, TONAD, and Pearson.
“The books we seized are mostly from well-known publishers,” he said. “These publishers are losing millions to piracy every year.”
Authors Must Be Protected, Says NCC DG
Dr. Asein emphasized that the NCC’s primary responsibility is to protect the rights of authors and publishers.
“It is our duty to ensure that authors are rewarded for their creative work,” Asein said. “Under my leadership, the NCC has zero tolerance for piracy and copyright infringement.”
He stressed that piracy not only hurts authors and publishers but also has a negative impact on Nigeria’s economy.
“Piracy undermines the creative industry’s ability to contribute to our nation’s economic growth,” he added.
Asein vowed that the NCC would continue to intensify its anti-piracy operations to protect the interests of authors and the book industry.
Suspects to Face Prosecution
Following the raid, the NCC announced that suspects connected to the sale of pirated books would face prosecution.
Dr. Asein warned that strict legal action would be taken against those involved in piracy to serve as a deterrent.
“The suspects will be charged to court to show others that piracy will not be tolerated,” he said.
He also urged Nigerians to support the NCC’s mission by reporting suspected piracy activities.
“We cannot do it alone,” Asein stated. “We need credible information from the public to successfully fight piracy in Nigeria.”
The Growing Menace of Book Piracy in Nigeria
Book piracy has become a serious problem in Nigeria, with pirated books commonly sold in markets and on the streets.
For years, the Nigerian publishing industry has been losing millions of naira annually due to piracy.
Many authors and publishers struggle to make a profit as pirated versions of their books flood the market.
A recent report by the Publishers Association of Nigeria revealed that piracy has damaged Nigeria’s publishing sector, with some publishers even considering closing down.
Books that are widely used in schools are particularly vulnerable to piracy, as demand for affordable textbooks remains high.
Dr. Asein pointed out that, while the NCC has made some progress in its fight against piracy, much more needs to be done.
“We are determined to protect Nigeria’s creative industry,” he said. “But we need everyone’s cooperation to achieve this goal.”
NCC’s Appeal to the Public
The NCC is appealing to Nigerians to support the fight against book piracy by purchasing only original, licensed copies of books.
Dr. Asein stressed that buying pirated books is not only illegal but also harms the nation’s educational system.
“When people buy pirated books, they are directly funding criminal activities,” he explained. “This weakens our educational system and harms our economy.”
He urged parents, students, and educators to avoid pirated books and only purchase books from legitimate sources.
