The Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) has issued a firm warning to bookshops in Kano to comply with national copyrighting laws.
The warning followed an enforcement operation where NCC officials inspected several bookstores around Bata Roundabout in Kano.
During the inspection, officers discovered multiple pirated books displayed for sale without proper authorization. Acting State Coordinator of the NCC in Kano, Sani Ahmad, confirmed that several bookshops were found violating copyright laws.
He stressed that selling or distributing pirated materials is a criminal act punishable under the Nigerian Copyright Act.
Ahmad explained that the operation aimed to protect intellectual property and ensure fair earnings for authors and publishers.
According to him, the NCC will continue surprise inspections to discourage book piracy across the country. He also noted that copyright infringement damages Nigeria’s education and publishing sectors, while genuine authors lose revenue to counterfeit distributors.
Furthermore, the NCC urged bookshop owners to always verify their book sources before selling them to the public.
The commission also encouraged the public to report piracy cases to nearby NCC offices to help combat the illegal trade. In addition, the NCC announced plans to extend its monitoring to online bookstores and printing presses in major Nigerian cities.
This recent enforcement reflects the commission’s renewed commitment to curbing book piracy nationwide.
As the campaign continues, the NCC reminded all dealers that ignorance of the law offers no protection. The message is clear — NCC Warns Bookshops to operate legally or face prosecution.
