THE Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) has pledged to consolidate on the gains from the synergy with the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), with a renewed commitment for deeper collaboration, to stem the tide of piracy for robust revenue generation for the creative sector.
Director-General, NCC, Dr. John O. Asein, stated this in his goodwill message to the NCS during the Management Retreat, Sensitisation Workshop and Public Enlightenment on the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023 in Abuja on Monday 10th July 2023.
Congratulating the NCS on the new Service Act, he lauded the collaboration between the Customs and the NCC and said the effort has yielded so much fruit and helped to reduce the tide of piracy across the borders. “If not for the NCS the creative sector would have been terribly battered, particularly the book industry, I am happy that the synergy has been able to address piracy in the sector by checkmating imports of infringing materials” he stressed.
Dr. Asein noted that the NCS Act 2023 specifically mentioned the powers of NCS in Section 168 of the Act to: seize, detain and arrest any import that is in infringement of the Copyright Act. He commended those that crafted the law for addressing the concerns in the creative sector while making the call for renewed commitment in the collaboration.
In his opening address, the Acting Comptroller-General, NCS, Mr. Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, thanked the former President for giving his assent to the NCS Act 2023 and the current President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for keeping faith with the implementation of key provisions of the Act. He also thanked members of the 9th National Assembly for the expeditious consideration and passage of the bill and his predecessor, Col. Hameed Ali Rtd. for midwifing the process.
He explained that Customs Act, enacted 63 years ago, had been in operation without any significant amendments notwithstanding the expansion in government, growth in population, and the dynamic progress and challenges in the conduct of international trade.
Noting the onerous task under the purview of the NCS, he assured all stakeholders that the NCS will be working under the pillar of Consolidation, Collaboration and Innovation, to ensure it discharges its responsibilities under the Act. “We are going to engage in very constructive consultations with members of the organised private sectors and all the stakeholders to ensure all reap maximum benefit from this Act”, he disclosed.
The Ag. CG equally emphasised the obligation of the NCS towards the development of the Creative Industry in line with the remarks of the DG, NCC. He affirmed that there is need to consolidate on the achievements that has already been mentioned by the NCC and that the Strategic, Research and Policy Department of the NCS will look into the books to further strengthen existing collaborations.

Amos Abutu
For: Director-General