A joint task force on Tuesday seized suspected pirated books worth N5 million from bookstores and shops in Ajegunle, a suburb of Lagos. The taskforce comprised of representatives of the Lagos State Booksellers Association of Nigeria (LASBAN),Ajegunle chapter, military personnel and the enforcement unit of the Nigeria Copyright Commission (NCC). Mr Valentine Uche, the president of the association, told newsmen after the raid that it was to ensure that every bookseller in the domain operated within the framework of the NCC.
“We will no longer tolerate piracy in the community again. Ajegunle is known to be the hub of piracy and we shall kick against it,’’ Uche said. He said that as part of efforts to stop pirates from operating in the area, the NCC had set up a 14-man task force to pursue the course. The president said that the committee had been supportive of its members in carrying out the anti-piracy raids in the area. “Piracy-business has reduced to the barest minimum in Ajegunle. The raid carried out was to check the activities of those involved in the business, ensure they desist from such but comply with NCC regulations,’’ he said.
Another member of the association, Mr Amagba Casmir, said that the raid was to protect intellectual property of authors. Casmir, President of Bibles and Christian Books Dealers Association, also said that the exercise is , “Also, to guide against mass production of substandard works, inspirational and academic books.’’ He said that the raid was to warn those selling suspected pirated works to guide against such unethical behaviour and the need for them to desist from such act.
The chairman of the Joint Task Force, Mr Edwin Uzor, said that it was a punishable offence for sellers to sell pirated works in the area. Uzor said that anybody found wanting would face the wrath of the law. He said that the task force had been operating effectively within the community adding that sellers had been abiding by the NCC rules.
Uzor said that the task force which waas inaugurated by the Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) in 2012, commenced operations in 2013.
“NCC has been effective and at the forefront in the fight against piracy in Ajegunle, “ Uzor said, adding that nobody was arrested during the raids but the task made some seizures. Earlier, the Zonal Manager of NCC, Mr Chris Nkwocha, confirmed the seizure of pirated books to newsmen. He said that the anti-piracy raid was done in conjunction with NCC enforcement team and some officers of the Nigerian Army. Nkwocha said that NCC would continue to lead others in the fight against piracy in Lagos state.
He said that plans were ongoing by the commission to set-up an anti-piracy task force in every local government area of the state. “The idea is to support the fight against piracy within the state and to ensure that piracy is reduced to the barest minimum, “ Nkwocha said.
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