Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) has urged printers, booksellers and copyright-related businesses in Abuja to comply fully with the provisions of the Copyright Act or face strict penalties.
Head of Operations of the Commission, Mr. Femi Ajala, made the call on Wednesday during a press briefing after an inspection, sensitisation and compliance exercise carried out across the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.
Ajala said the exercise, which covered over 20 bookshops, printing presses and artwork vendors, revealed widespread non-compliance and breaches of copyright laws, reports Saturday Independent.
He explained that the operation was part of preparations for a nationwide enforcement drive aimed at strengthening copyright protection and promoting respect for intellectual property.
He disclosed that several printing outfits failed to keep proper registers of their works as required under Section 48 of the Copyright Act.
He warned that the next phase of the exercise would focus on enforcement, adding that violators would face heavy sanctions.
“The least penalty is one hundred thousand naira per copy of any infringing work found in your possession,” Ajala cautioned.
The NCC operations head also raised concern over rising cases of online piracy, describing the losses as “running into billions of dollars” across various creative sectors.
“The Commission is not asking anyone to go out of business,” he said.
“We are only asking operators to follow the principles that guide their trade so their businesses can flourish legally.”
Ajala appealed to printers, booksellers and the general public to support the Commission’s efforts to protect creators’ rights, urging all to desist from piracy and illegal dealings in copyrighted materials.
At the Commerce Market in Area 1, Abuja, where the team carried out enlightenment activities, the Chairman of the Printers Association of Nigeria (PAN), Mr. Ruben Omenefu, thanked the Commission for the visit.
He noted that many printers were unaware of key provisions of the Copyright Act and requested a formal training session for members, which the NCC agreed to organise soon.
The NCC reaffirmed its commitment to promoting creativity, transparency and lawful business operations across the country.
