Customs Intercepts 80, 882 Pirated Books Worth N80m

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has impounded two containers
of 80,882 pirated textbooks and dictionaries worth N80 million.

Speaking during inspection of the intercepted imported pirated
books at the Lagos Zonal Office of the Nigerian Copyright
Commission (NCC), Deputy Comptroller, Enforcement, Nigeria Customs
Service Tincan Port, Mr B.N. Obiakulusi, reemphasised NCS
commitment to the fight against contraband goods, particularly
pirated books brought into the country through the ports.

Obiakulusi, who was at the inspection, which also doubled as
handing over ceremony of the imported pirated books to NCC, said
the Nigeria Customs has also intercepted two more containers of
pirated books which it hopes to hand over to NCC anytime soon.

“Before now people carry all these books and like the DG said,
you can’t differentiate between the original and the pirated copy,
but through our collaboration with NCC, we are able to intercept
the pirated books.

“I assure you no pirated book will escape our watch. As we speak
we have two more containers which will be handed over to NCC
anytime soon. We are working earnestly to make sure we bring all
these things to a stop. I commend NCC DG for his efforts at
fighting piracy and his staff for their aptness in searching for
pirated books,” he said.

He added: “The first container, according to NCC, contained
about 720 cartoons of books which included New Concept English for
Senior Secondary School by Learn Africa, Macmillan Champion
Mathematics and Lantern Books.

“The second container contained about 705 cartoons of various
titles that included books by Africana First Publishers Plc, Tonad
Publishers Ltd and Oxford Dictionary and Modern Biology.”

NCC DG, Mr John Asein, said: “ “Through the combined efforts of
NCC and the Nigeria Customs Service, these consignments totaling
80, 882 copies of pirated books belonging to different Nigerian
publishers with a market value of over N80 Million, were
intercepted at Tincan Port.

“The seizure should send a clear message to importers of pirated
copyright materials and other copyright predators on the resolve of
the government to fight piracy on all platforms using every
available legislative, regulatory, administrative and policy
initiatives. It is our hope that this synergy will be sustained for
the good of the book industry in Nigeria.”

The event was attended by Nigerian Publishers Association
chairman Hon. (Mrs) Folashade Shinkaiye; Managing Director, Lantern
Books, Mr. Tunde Lawal-Solarin; MD of Africana First Publishers
Plc, Mr Austin Onwubiko; President, Booksellers Association of
Nigeria, Mr. Dare Oluwatuyi, and University Press PLC, Mr. Sanya
Olusegun.

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has impounded two containers
of 80,882 pirated textbooks and dictionaries worth N80 million.

Speaking during inspection of the intercepted imported pirated
books at the Lagos Zonal Office of the Nigerian Copyright
Commission (NCC), Deputy Comptroller, Enforcement, Nigeria Customs
Service Tincan Port, Mr B.N. Obiakulusi, reemphasised NCS
commitment to the fight against contraband goods, particularly
pirated books brought into the country through the ports.

Obiakulusi, who was at the inspection, which also doubled as
handing over ceremony of the imported pirated books to NCC, said
the Nigeria Customs has also intercepted two more containers of
pirated books which it hopes to hand over to NCC anytime soon.

“Before now people carry all these books and like the DG said,
you can’t differentiate between the original and the pirated copy,
but through our collaboration with NCC, we are able to intercept
the pirated books.

“I assure you no pirated book will escape our watch. As we speak
we have two more containers which will be handed over to NCC
anytime soon. We are working earnestly to make sure we bring all
these things to a stop. I commend NCC DG for his efforts at
fighting piracy and his staff for their aptness in searching for
pirated books,” he said.

He added: “The first container, according to NCC, contained
about 720 cartoons of books which included New Concept English for
Senior Secondary School by Learn Africa, Macmillan Champion
Mathematics and Lantern Books.

“The second container contained about 705 cartoons of various
titles that included books by Africana First Publishers Plc, Tonad
Publishers Ltd and Oxford Dictionary and Modern Biology.”

NCC DG, Mr John Asein, said: “ “Through the combined efforts of
NCC and the Nigeria Customs Service, these consignments totaling
80, 882 copies of pirated books belonging to different Nigerian
publishers with a market value of over N80 Million, were
intercepted at Tincan Port.

“The seizure should send a clear message to importers of pirated
copyright materials and other copyright predators on the resolve of
the government to fight piracy on all platforms using every
available legislative, regulatory, administrative and policy
initiatives. It is our hope that this synergy will be sustained for
the good of the book industry in Nigeria.”

The event was attended by Nigerian Publishers Association
chairman Hon. (Mrs) Folashade Shinkaiye; Managing Director, Lantern
Books, Mr. Tunde Lawal-Solarin; MD of Africana First Publishers
Plc, Mr Austin Onwubiko; President, Booksellers Association of
Nigeria, Mr. Dare Oluwatuyi, and University Press PLC, Mr. Sanya
Olusegun.