The Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Ogun State Command, Commandant Remi Ekundayo, has reaffirmed the commitment of officers and men of the Command to safeguarding the rights of authors and other stakeholders in the creative industry, in line with the Corps’ mandate to protect national critical assets and infrastructure.
Commandant Ekundayo gave this assurance while receiving the Director-General of the Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC), Dr. John Asein, and representatives of the Nigerian Publishers Association (NPA), during a courtesy visit to the NSCDC State Command Headquarters in Abeokuta, Ogun State.
She expressed appreciation to the NCC Director-General for personally visiting the Command to show solidarity following the recent attack on NSCDC and NCC officers by hoodlums during an anti-piracy operation at Sabo Market in Sagamu, Ogun State.
According to her, the visit would further boost the morale of the Command’s officers, assuring them that their courage and dedication to duty are recognized and appreciated by right owners and other stakeholders in the creative sector.
Commandant Ekundayo decried the negative effects of piracy on the nation’s creative economy, urging market authorities and traders to desist from selling or distributing pirated materials, especially books. She also called on right owners to continue supporting the NCC’s efforts through collaboration in both kinetic and non-kinetic approaches, including public enlightenment and copyright education campaigns.
In his remarks, the NCC Director-General, Dr. John Asein, expressed gratitude to all enforcement agencies, particularly the NSCDC, for their consistent support in the Commission’s anti-piracy efforts. He commended the Ogun State Command for its professionalism in handling the Sagamu incident, emphasizing that every act of enforcement strengthens the foundation of Nigeria’s creative economy.
Dr. Asein described piracy as an economic crime that undermines creativity, innovation, and national development. He called on all stakeholders to unite against perpetrators and reaffirmed the NCC’s commitment to sanitizing the copyright sector for the benefit of authors, investors, and Nigeria’s creative future.
In line with the theme of this year’s Independence Anniversary, Dr. Asein urged all Nigerians to join hands in building a greater nation where creativity is protected and rewarded.
