The Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) on Tuesday destroyed pirated books valued at N141.5 million, seized from booksellers and suppliers during enforcement operations across southwestern Nigeria.
The destruction exercise, held in Ibadan, Oyo State, was supervised by the NCC Oyo State Coordinator, Mrs. Oluropo Oke, on behalf of the NCC Director‑General, Dr. John Asein.
Dr. Asein revealed that the pirated books were confiscated over the past three years from bookshops and markets in Abeokuta, Sango-Otta in Ogun State, and Ibadan.
“We valued the books before destroying them and found their total value to be N141,550,000,” he said.
The NCC emphasized that the operation is part of its continuous efforts to protect intellectual property rights in Nigeria, support authors and publishers, and curb the circulation of illegal materials.
Mrs. Oke warned that the commission will maintain strict enforcement against piracy, urging booksellers and the public to source and sell only legitimate copyrighted works to safeguard the creative industry.
The NCC’s action underscores the ongoing fight against intellectual property violations, highlighting the importance of respecting copyright laws to promote a thriving literary and creative sector in Nigeria.
