The Nigerian Copyright Commision, NCC, has attributed weak legislation, among others as the main reason for the increased and worsening cases of piracy in Nigeria.
Coordinator of the commission, in charge of Benue, Nasarawa and Taraba states, Mr. Thomas Mgbanngun stated this, Thursday, while speaking with the Next Edition in his office in Makurdi.
The State Coordinator, who described piracy as an act worse than armed robbery, said some criminal elements want to benefit from the works of others without recourse to them.
Mr. Mbanngun named weak legislation, abysmal proliferation of internet use among others as challenges facing the commission in the country and called on the National Assembly to assist the commission by ensuring speedy ammendment of the laws to enable them nip it in the bud.
“Our focus is to eradicate piracy in the country and not to minimize it. We are working on stringent laws and lobbying the National Assembly to ensure that the ammendment is hastened up and the bill passed into law so that the commission can have a robust law.”
He noted that in some other climes, “when you are caught with pirated works, you face the law squarely but here in Nigeria, we have weak legislation”. He said strong legislation was important and would help knowleadgeable people to nip the activities of pirates in the bud.
With the push to stop piracy in Nigeria, the coordiantor disclosed that the Director General has also written to Primary and Secondary schools across the country warning that if any of their students is found with a pirated book, such school will be closed down.
He said “the system is not well regulated and the commission wants to change the narrative where our creators die in penury as a result of theft of their ideas.”
He disclosed that the NCC, established in 1989, will be celebrating its 30 years anniversary to take stock of what has been done in the past and chat a way forwad.
He said the celebration themed “Changing the Copyright Narratives,” will be a three months programme begining from August 19 and will feature activities like thanksgiving Mass, interactive sessions, road walk, media chats, quiz and readings for students, VIP visits to create awareness and seek partnership in the fight against piracy.
He therefore pledged the commitment of the commission to create awareness about copyright until the menace is stamped out from the Nigerian system.
