Nigerian Publishers Raise Alarm Over Book Piracy

The Nigerian Publishers Association (NPA) has sounded the alarm over the rising threat of book piracy in the country.

The Publishers called during a press conference to mark World Book and Copyright Day 2025.

World Book and Copyright Day is a day set aside to celebrate and promote the enjoyment of books and reading, and to recognise the capability of the book as a bridge between the past, present and future, a link between different generations and across cultures.

UNESCO’s theme for this year’s celebration, “Read Your Way,” underscores books’ vital role in paving the way for a better tomorrow.

Speaking, President/Chairman-in-Council of the Association, Alhaji Lukman Dauda said any attempt to import books legitimately into the Country is met with a high exchange rate, making such unattractive.

He said, “In an increasingly interconnected and knowledge-driven world, access to information and educational resources has become important in personal, societal, and economic development.

“Books, in their different forms- digital or physical- are purveyors of knowledge and allow us to learn and to keep ourselves informed. Books are instructive and entertaining, and they help us understand the world.

“It is therefore essential for everyone to have access to knowledge through unrestricted access to books. The rise of digital platforms and online libraries has dramatically improved access, allowing readers to obtain resources without the constraints of geography or financial means.

According to him, making books accessible is a collective effort of all stakeholders in the book ecosystem.

He said this involves the authors, publishers, distributors/booksellers, and libraries. “In ensuring that books are readily available and accessible, a balance must be struck between access to information and the rights of the creators.

“Every inch of effort must be deployed to discourage any unauthorised printing or use in whatever form, physical or digital, of the intellectual property of another person or entity. The success of this will encourage creativity and adequate compensation for the owners of the rights.

“In our environment here in Nigeria, the rate of piracy of the works of others has reached a frightening dimension, to the extent that perpetrators of this evil have advanced to the level of mass importation of high-quality pirated books into the Nigerian market.

“While it is convenient to assume the unsuspecting masses who patronise these criminals may be ignorant, instances abound where some knowingly patronise them under the guise of a cheaper price! This trend portends a great danger to the publishing industry as it can ruin the huge investment of genuine publishers in the book business.”

They called on the appropriate authorities to ensure that the recently enacted Copyright Law is implemented to the letter and that adequate and maximum penalties are applied to the perpetrators of the dastardly act.

“With a Gross Domestic Product, GDP of over a hundred billion in the book industry annually, any market/sales lost to the pirate is a loss of revenue to the government. As law-abiding corporate citizens, our members pay their Company income tax regularly based on profit derived from sales volume, while the pirates operate free of tax to the government. Therefore, the lower the sales volume, the lower the tax liability, and the lower the revenue accruable to the government.”

While appreciating the efforts of the Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC), they pleaded that the government ensure the Commission is adequately funded to impact the fight against piracy significantly.

They emphasised the need for proper collaborative efforts between the Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC), the Nigeria Customs Service, the Nigeria Police Force, and other security agencies in the fight against international, cross-border, and local book piracy. When all security agencies apply pressure, pirates’ activities will be brought to the lowest level.

“Concerted efforts should be made to ensure continuous sensitisation of the citizens to the ills of patronising pirated books and other instructional materials, particularly on the country’s economy. When there are no markets for pirates to sell, they will divert their energies to legitimate means of livelihood.

“Libraries in various locations, be it in school or public places– should be well equipped with physical or digital books to enhance accessibility.

The government should create an environment enabling more investors to invest in paper production. This can provide the needed ingredients for core raw material availability and multiply cheaper books due to lower production costs. In addition, for the umpteenth time, we call on the government to remove import duties on other printing materials imported for book production. Alternatively, the duties on such should be reduced to the barest minimum.”