NCC, customs collaborate to curb piracy at Nigeria’s borders

The Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) and the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) have moved to strengthen enforcement against the movement of pirated and copyright-infringing materials across the country’s borders.

The Director General (DG) of the NCC, Dr John Asein, stated this on Wednesday in Kaduna during a one-day capacity building training for officers of the NCS, Kaduna Area Command and NCC Kaduna State Command.

Asein, represented by the Director of the Nigerian Copyright Academy, Olufunmilayo Adewale, said the fight against copyright piracy requires effective border control, intelligence sharing and coordinated enforcement.

According to him, customs agents were strategically positioned to identify and intercept suspected pirated and counterfeit materials entering or leaving the country.

He said the Copyright Act 2022 provided the legal framework for the protection and enforcement of copyright in Nigeria, adding that both agencies must ensure that its provisions result in effective action against piracy and illicit trade in protected works.

Asein also called for sustained cooperation between the two agencies through timely information sharing, improved communication and coordinated operations in line with their respective mandates.

Speaking on the significance of the exercise, the State Commander of NCC, Kaduna Command, Barr. Rukayya Muhammad Yaldu, said copyright infringement has evolved into an organized crime, with pirates transporting protected works across borders for distribution.

Yaldu said the exercise was designed to enable both agencies to understand their respective roles and strengthen cooperation in copyright enforcement.

He explained that while the NCC would train customs officials on copyright enforcement, the Customs Service would also train NCC agents on border operations and enforcement procedures.

Furthermore, the Chief of Operations of the NCC Kaduna Command, Abdullahi Alfa Muhammed, said the program aims to strengthen interagency synergy between the Commission and customs authorities on border measures under the Copyright Act 2022.

He said the ultimate goal is to reduce the distribution of pirated material across Nigeria, adding that effective enforcement requires coordinated action by relevant agencies at all border points.

The Acting Public Relations Officer, Federal Task Force, Zone B, Nigeria Customs Service, Muhammad Usman Balarabe, described the program as vital to strengthening collaboration between the two agencies.

Balarabe said the knowledge-sharing exercise would improve understanding of both agencies’ operational procedures and enable the NCC to work more closely with customs in enforcement operations.

The training was attended by officers from NCS, Kaduna Area Command and NCC, Kaduna State Command, as well as representatives from the National Orientation Agency (NOA), booksellers and other copyright stakeholders.