The Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) has taken a bold step in its rebranding and enforcement efforts, simultaneously unveiling a new corporate identity and destroying pirated books valued at a staggering N141.5 million. The dual actions signal a renewed commitment to protecting intellectual property rights in Nigeria.
A New Symbol for Enforcement and Creativity
At an event held in Abuja, the Commission officially presented its new logo. Ijeoma Egbunike, the Director of Public Affairs for the NCC, detailed the rich symbolism behind the design. She explained that the logo features a circular badge in green and red, with 36 radiating red spikes representing Nigeria's 36 states.
"Together, these spikes form a hexagonal police star, which symbolises the enforcement and police powers vested in the Commission," Egbunike stated. She added that the six tallest spikes have a dual meaning: they represent the six major categories of copyright-protected works and the six geopolitical zones of Nigeria, highlighting the nationwide scope of creativity.
The design also incorporates three flowing green-white-green blocks with the 'NCC' initials, depicting book spines and the dynamic flow of ideas. An inner green circle stands for creativity, aligning with the Commission's core mandate, while an outer blue circle signifies the wealth generated by creative industries. Egbunike urged media professionals to adopt the new logo immediately and discontinue the use of any old versions.
Massive Destruction of Pirated Books
In a parallel demonstration of its enforcement drive, the NCC, on Tuesday, 17 December 2025, destroyed a large cache of pirated books. The Director General of the NCC, Dr. John Asein, revealed that the materials were seized over the past three years from bookshops and markets in Abeokuta, Sango-Otta in Ogun State, and Ibadan in Oyo State.
The destruction in Ibadan was supervised by the Oyo State Coordinator, Oluropo Oke, on behalf of the DG. A statement from the Commission confirmed that the books were meticulously valued before destruction, with the total reaching N141,550,000.
"During our operations, we found that some booksellers could not provide proof of source for their purchases," the statement noted. It also outlined key features that distinguish original books from pirated copies, including:
- Binding quality
- Colour reproduction
- Paper grammage (weight)
- Point of purchase
Strong Warnings and Economic Impact
Dr. Asein issued a stern warning, reminding the public that the Nigerian Copyright Act empowers the Commission to punish anyone involved in piracy or illegal dealings in intellectual property. Individuals found in possession of the seized materials face severe penalties, including substantial fines and forfeiture of goods.
The DG emphasized the devastating impact of book piracy, stating that it continues to harm national economic growth and unjustly deprives authors, publishers, and other right holders of the legitimate rewards for their hard work and creativity. The NCC's latest actions underscore its dual focus on modernizing its public image and aggressively pursuing its mandate to safeguard Nigeria's creative economy from the scourge of piracy.
