BY JULIET EKWENUGO
Kaduna
The Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) has intensified its nationwide campaign against piracy with a sensitisation and inspection exercise for printers, publishers, booksellers and schools in Kaduna State.
The exercise, spearheaded by the Kaduna State Coordinator of the Commission, Rukayya Muhammad Yeldu, forms part of a nationwide initiative of the Director-General, Dr. John Asein, aimed at strengthening compliance with copyright laws and curbing the menace of piracy within the printing and publishing sector.
Speaking during an interactive session with members of the Kaduna Master Printers Association, Yeldu said the sensitisation was designed to enlighten printers—who are often unsuspecting victims of piracy—on how to detect, report and prevent copyright infringements in their line of work.
“The essence of this sensitisation, monitoring and inspection exercise is to educate printers who are usually the target of pirates. We are enlightening them on how to detect infringement, how to report it, and how to ensure they do not become conduits for pirated works.”
She reminded printers of their legal obligations under Section 48 of the Copyright Act, which mandates every printer to maintain a detailed record of all printing jobs handled, including the client’s name, address, phone number, quantity, and job description.
According to her, keeping such records helps enforcement officers trace the origin of pirated materials, while failure to comply attracts strict penalties.
“Once you are caught violating the law, you may be fined ₦100,000 or sentenced to one year imprisonment, or both. In some cases, offenders could face up to five years in jail,” Yeldu warned.
She further revealed that the Kaduna Office of the NCC has been taking the campaign beyond urban areas by visiting schools, booksellers and local governments across the state to ensure full compliance.
“This sensitisation is nationwide and ongoing. We were in Zaria recently where we visited several schools and confiscated pirated books. We are also moving to other local governments. This is a continuous exercise,” she added.
Responding, the Chairman of the Kaduna Master Printers Association, Bello Ibrahim, commended the Commission for taking the campaign directly to the printers’ doorstep, describing the initiative as both timely and impactful.
“We are grateful that you came to sensitise our members. Ignorance is not an excuse, and hearing this directly from the NCC gives our members a better understanding. It makes enforcement easier for us as an association,” Bello stated.
He pledged that the association would extend the message to printers in other parts of the state, including Zaria, Kafanchan, and other local government areas, to promote copyright compliance across the printing industry.
