The Executive Director of the National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB), Dr. Shaibu Husseini, has issued a compelling call for enhanced collaboration with the Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) to aggressively confront the escalating threat of digital piracy. This menace, according to Dr. Husseini, significantly jeopardizes Nigeria’s vibrant creative economy. The plea was made during a pivotal courtesy visit to the Director General of the NCC, Dr. John Asein, and his leadership team in Abuja, where both prominent agencies unequivocally committed to reinvigorating their joint endeavors aimed at meticulously safeguarding the intellectual property rights of Nigerian filmmakers and a broad spectrum of other content creators.

During the meeting, Dr. Husseini lauded the NCC for its persistent efforts in robustly protecting creators' rights and upholding the intrinsic integrity of the nation's creative sector. However, he conveyed profound concern regarding the alarming increase in film piracy incidents on various encrypted digital platforms, specifically citing popular Telegram channels and numerous unauthorized streaming websites, where Nigerian films are unlawfully disseminated merely hours after their official release. He highlighted an even more unsettling issue: the continuous, flagrant piracy of Nigerian films by specific Ghanaian television stations that broadcast these works without obtaining the requisite proper licensing. Dr. Husseini stressed that such illicit activities not only unjustly deprive Nigerian filmmakers of their rightful earnings but also critically undermine the sustainable growth of the domestic film industry and, by extension, the broader creative economy.

The NFVCB boss elucidated that the primary purpose of his visit was to articulate the pressing concerns of stakeholders and to proactively explore avenues for strengthening inter-agency cooperation in crucial areas such as copyright enforcement, vigilant digital monitoring, and comprehensive public education. He affirmed the NFVCB's unwavering readiness to collaborate closely with the NCC to forge an actionable and robust framework explicitly designed to combat pervasive online piracy and meticulously protect the legitimate interests of authorized digital platforms. Dr. Husseini emphasized the urgent necessity for both agencies to jointly implement technology-driven solutions, intensively engage with stakeholders across the industry, and vigorously pursue effective cross-border enforcement mechanisms, particularly given that piracy inherently transcends national geographical boundaries. He articulated a shared vision: "Together, we can protect the intellectual property of Nigerian filmmakers, encourage more investment in content creation, and strengthen the credibility of our creative sector globally.”

In a resolute response, Dr. John Asein, the esteemed Director General of the Nigerian Copyright Commission, unequivocally reaffirmed the Commission’s steadfast commitment and readiness to collaboratively work with the NFVCB and other pertinent stakeholders. This collaborative spirit aims to meticulously restore the dignity and commensurate rewards rightfully due to Nigerian creators. Dr. Asein eloquently stated, "We have one ecosystem, one sector, one country, and one goal—to make the creative industry sustainable and beneficial to those who own it.” He passionately underscored the historical plight of many creative veterans who have dedicated decades to their craft with often minimal tangible returns, asserting, "We must do everything possible to restore the glory of creativity and ensure that recompense gets to those who deserve it.”

Further elaborating on concrete steps, Dr. Asein disclosed that the NCC is in the advanced stages of finalizing a crucial Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the NFVCB. This MoU is intended to formalize and solidify their collaborative efforts, notably encompassing strategic plans to establish a specialized task force specifically dedicated to tackling the intricate challenges of online piracy. Additionally, the NCC plans to introduce a rapid-response portal, designed to facilitate prompt reporting of copyright infringements. Dr. Asein also revealed that the Commission has proactively engaged with the Nigeria Internet Registration Association (NiRA) to leverage their expertise in monitoring and flagging unauthorized utilization of Nigerian domain names by illicit pirate sites. Citing a specific example, he explained, “For instance, the so-called ‘Movie Box’ platform uses a .ng domain but is neither registered nor owned in Nigeria. We are building systems to hold service providers liable for such breaches.”

Addressing the contentious issue of broadcast piracy, Dr. Asein accentuated the imperative need for the adoption of sound, proper business models and widespread public enlightenment, observing that a considerable number of industry players unwittingly contravene copyright laws. Furthermore, he advocated strongly for the incorporation of more stringent copyright protections within the framework of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), thereby seeking to robustly safeguard Nigerian content across international borders. He reiterated, “We must ensure commensurate rewards for our creators,” emphasizing the NCC’s overarching goals: to significantly increase copyright education, expand the scope of content registration to effectively avert ownership disputes, and assiduously promote credible alternative dispute resolution mechanisms to circumvent protracted and costly court cases.

Both the NFVCB and NCC reached a mutual consensus to intensify their joint public campaigns and stakeholder engagement initiatives. These efforts are designed to elevate public awareness regarding the critical importance of copyright protection and the necessity of digital responsibility. This significant visit marks yet another decisive stride in the ongoing concerted inter-agency efforts committed to meticulously safeguarding Nigeria’s burgeoning creative economy, ultimately ensuring that its talented artists, dedicated filmmakers, and rightful content owners are duly awarded fair compensation and well-deserved recognition for their invaluable creative contributions.