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ABUJA – The Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen inter-agency cooperation in combating copyright piracy and related organised criminal activities.
The MoU was signed on Friday at the NDLEA Headquarters in Abuja, Amos Abutu, said in a statement on behalf of the Director-General.
Speaking at the ceremony, the Director-General of the NCC, Dr. John O. Asein, described the agreement as an important milestone in the growing culture of inter-agency collaboration within Nigeria’s public service.
He said the partnership brings together two institutions whose statutory mandates, though distinct, converge in their shared responsibility to protect society from criminal enterprises that undermine national security, economic development and the rule of law.
Dr. Asein explained that the MoU establishes a structured framework for cooperation in intelligence and information sharing, training and capacity building, technical assistance, operational support, joint initiatives and other areas of mutual interest.
He noted that the agreement reflects the shared recognition that contemporary criminal activities are increasingly sophisticated, interconnected and transnational, and therefore require coordinated, intelligence-led and technology-driven responses.
The Director-General observed that copyright piracy is often wrongly perceived as a minor commercial offence or a victimless crime.
He said, large-scale piracy is a highly organised and profitable criminal enterprise that deprives creators and investors of legitimate income, destroys jobs, discourages investment, reduces government revenue and weakens the foundations of Nigeria’s creative economy.
He further noted that piracy and drug trafficking may intersect through common criminal networks, distribution channels, illicit financial flows and other forms of organised crime.
He stressed that closer cooperation between the two agencies would help identify and disrupt such networks more effectively.
According to him, the partnership aligns with the objectives of the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda, as a thriving creative economy cannot be sustained without effective protection of intellectual property rights, just as national security cannot be guaranteed when organised criminal networks are allowed to flourish.
“By strengthening institutional cooperation, building enforcement capacity and disrupting the criminal enterprises that profit from piracy and other illicit activities, this collaboration will contribute meaningfully to economic diversification, job creation, investment in the creative industries, and the overall security and prosperity of our nation,” he said.
Dr. Asein expressed the NCC’s readiness to benefit from the NDLEA’s highly developed technical and operational capacity, particularly in intelligence gathering and analysis, digital and forensic investigation, surveillance, evidence management, financial investigation, operational planning and the dismantling of organised criminal networks.
He emphasised that training and capacity building would be central to the partnership, enabling officers of both agencies to acquire the specialised knowledge and practical skills required to respond effectively to evolving criminal methods.
The Director-General commended the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, management and technical teams of the NDLEA and the NCC for the commitment, diligence and professionalism that culminated in the successful conclusion of the MoU.
He expressed confidence that the partnership would deliver practical and measurable outcomes through stronger institutional capacity, enhanced intelligence sharing, more effective investigations, coordinated enforcement operations and the disruption of criminal networks threatening Nigeria’s creative economy and national security.
In his remarks, the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), described the signing of the MoU as a strategic partnership reflecting the shared realities confronting law enforcement agencies in the fight against organised crime in Nigeria.
He noted that criminal networks rarely limit themselves to a single illicit enterprise, explaining that syndicates involved in drug trafficking may also engage in other forms of organised economic crime, including intellectual property piracy.
“Proceeds from one illegal trade frequently finance another. This is the criminal value chain we must disrupt together,” he said.
Gen. Marwa stated that the MoU provides a structured framework for the collective fight against intellectual property crimes.
Under the agreement, both agencies will exchange intelligence, coordinate joint operations, build the capacity of their personnel and provide technical support to enhance operational effectiveness.
He disclosed that a Joint Working Committee would be established to drive the implementation of the agreement and meet regularly to ensure that the commitments contained in the MoU translate into measurable results.
According to him, the partnership extends beyond law enforcement to protecting the health and social well-being of Nigerians while safeguarding the country’s immense creative talent.
“Our creative talents deserve to thrive without the theft that piracy represents, just as our society deserves protection from the scourge of illicit drugs,” he added.
Expressing optimism about the successful implementation of the agreement, Gen. Marwa commended the NCC for recognising the intersection between intellectual property crime and other organised criminal activities, and for working with the NDLEA to establish a framework founded on mutual respect for the respective statutory mandates of both agencies.
The MoU underscores the commitment of the NCC and the NDLEA to deepening inter-agency cooperation, dismantling organised criminal networks, protecting intellectual property rights and advancing Nigeria’s creative economy, national security and sustainable development.
