NSCDC reaffirms commitment to protecting Nigeria’s creative sector as critical national asset

THE Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Ogun State Command, Remi Ekundayo, has reaffirmed the Corps’ commitment to safeguarding the rights of authors and other creatives as part of its mandate to protect critical national assets and infrastructure.

Commandant Ekundayo gave the assurance when she received 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 in solidarity following the recent attack on NSCDC and NCC officers by hoodlums during an anti-piracy operation at Sabo Market, Sagamu.

 The Commandant noted that the visit would further boost the morale of her officers and men, whose courage and dedication to duty had been acknowledged by right owners and other stakeholders in the creative industry.

She also called on right owners to continue supporting the NCC as it deploys approaches, including sustained public enlightenment and copyright education in its anti-piracy campaign.

In his remarks, Dr John Asein commended the NSCDC and other enforcement agencies for their consistent collaboration with the Commission in its fight against piracy.

He praised the Ogun State Command for its professionalism in handling the Sagamu incident. He emphasised that every effort toward copyright enforcement strengthens the foundation of Nigeria’s creative sector.

Describing piracy as an economic crime that undermines creativity, innovation, and national growth, Dr Asein called on all stakeholders to remain united in combating the menace.

He reiterated the NCC’s commitment to sanitising the copyright landscape for the benefit of authors, investors, and the nation’s creative future.