— Says Majority of Perpetrators Lack Literacy Skills

By Chimaobi Nwaiwu

NNEWI — The Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) has issued a stern warning to book pirates operating in Anambra and Delta States to vacate the states or face decisive legal action.

The State Coordinator of the NCC’s Onitsha Office, Mr. Gabriel Aniekwem, gave the warning on Monday during an inspection and monitoring exercise across publishing houses, printing presses, and bookshops in Onitsha, Anambra State.

Leading a team of operatives, Aniekwem expressed concern that a large percentage of individuals involved in book piracy operate with “blatant disregard for the law,” noting that many lack basic literacy skills.

“From our findings, about 95 percent of book pirates cannot read or write. That is why they engage in piracy with impunity,” he said. “We are urging publishers and printers to be vigilant. Anyone caught aiding or engaging in piracy will face the full weight of the law.”

He explained that the NCC carries out periodic monitoring to detect illegal activities early and prevent publishers or printers from drifting into piracy.

“Today, someone may be a genuine publisher or bookseller. Tomorrow, they may turn to piracy. Our constant checks help discourage such behaviour,” he said.

During the visit, NCC officials inspected printing plates, films, and waste materials to ensure publishers were not producing unauthorized works.

Aniekwem added that Onitsha was once notorious for piracy but noted significant improvement since the NCC signed a memorandum of understanding with stakeholders and intensified its monitoring efforts.

Sharing a personal experience, the coordinator revealed that two of his own books were previously pirated in Onitsha, and the individuals arrested were unable to fill out basic forms due to illiteracy.

He expressed satisfaction with the publishing firms visited, praising them for maintaining clean records. He urged them to request proper documentation from clients to prevent illegal printing, including job orders, contact details, address, and proof of ownership.

Publishers are also encouraged to request the first publication date, phone numbers of authors and original publishers, and to document the quantity of each job.

Chief Obidinso Eze of Printers Corner Publishers and Mr. Casmir Igboanyika of Prints Gate commended the NCC for its continuous oversight, describing piracy as an unacceptable practice that damages the industry.

They appealed to the Federal Government to address erratic power supply and the high cost of printing materials, lamenting that the collapse of paper mills has pushed production costs beyond reach.

Chief Joe Mbanugo of Joeson Bookshop, Onitsha, also lamented the dwindling presence of multinational publishing companies in Nigeria, saying the trend has contributed to the decline of book fairs and overall literary development in the country.