The Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) has donated confiscated copies of the Holy Bible to Correctional Centres, remand homes and other custodial institutions across the country for humanitarian use.
Speaking during the official handover ceremony in Lagos, the Director-General of the Commission, Dr. John Asein, said the initiative demonstrates the agency’s commitment to enforcing copyright laws while respecting the religious sensibilities of Nigerians.
He explained that modern editions of the Bible, including their translations, annotations and commentaries, are protected under the Copyright Act, 2022, as literary works despite their religious significance.
Asein noted that Section 9 of the Act grants copyright holders exclusive rights to reproduce, publish, distribute and adapt their works, stressing that these protections extend to religious publications such as the Bible, Qur’an and other faith-based texts.
He warned that unauthorised reproduction, importation or sale of such works without the permission of copyright owners amounts to infringement and constitutes a criminal offence under Nigerian law.
According to him, piracy undermines the investments of publishers and translators, encourages illegal trade, deprives the country of legitimate revenue and weakens respect for intellectual property rights.
The NCC boss said the Commission would continue to intercept and prosecute cases involving the illegal importation and reproduction of copyrighted materials in line with its statutory responsibilities.
He added that Nigeria’s membership of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and its obligations under the Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) agreement require the country to prevent pirated goods from entering legitimate markets.
Asein further disclosed that the Commission collaborates with the Nigeria Customs Service and other enforcement agencies to ensure pirated materials are intercepted at the nation’s borders.
While noting that the law permits the destruction of seized pirated materials, he said the Commission adopted a different approach regarding religious texts due to their spiritual importance.
“Out of respect for the sanctity of these materials, the Commission considers it inappropriate to destroy them. Instead, the seized Bibles have been marked ‘Not for Sale’ and redirected strictly for non-commercial humanitarian use, particularly in correctional centres where they can aid rehabilitation,” he said.
He also highlighted the moral dimension of piracy, stating that religious teachings themselves condemn theft and emphasise fairness and respect for the rights of others.
Asein therefore, called on religious leaders including pastors, imams, evangelists and scholars to educate their congregations on the importance of respecting copyright laws and avoiding pirated publications.
He urged religious institutions to lead by example by ensuring that materials used for worship and teaching are legally obtained and properly licensed.
The Director-General reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to protecting authors, publishers and other creators, preventing the spread of pirated works both physically and online, and promoting lawful access to knowledge.
He also extended Easter greetings to Christians, wishing them a peaceful and reflective celebration.
