The Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) on Thursday handed over seized copies of the Holy Bible to correctional centres, remand homes and other custodial institutions through accredited non-governmental organisations.
Dr John Asein, the Director-General of NCC, said the gesture reflected the commission’s commitment to enforcing copyright laws while respecting the religious values of Nigerians.
The handover ceremony took place at the Lagos office of NCC.
Asein was represented by Mrs Lynda Alphaeus, Director and Head of the Lagos office of NCC.
Asein clarified that modern versions of the Holy Bible, including their commentaries and notes, enjoy full protection under the Copyright Act, 2022.
He explained that while the message of the Bible is divine, its translations, annotations and commentaries are intellectual creations protected as literary works.
“Section 9 of the Act grants copyright owners exclusive rights to reproduce, publish, distribute and adapt their works, including religious texts such as the Bible, Qur’an and other sacred writings.
“The works protected include those from other countries with which Nigeria has treaty obligations and that would include the 182 countries that are contracting parties of the Berne Convention.
“No person or organisation is permitted to reproduce, import, print, distribute or sell such works without the authorisation of the copyright owner.
“Unauthorised reproduction or importation of religious text constitutes copyright infringement which is a criminal offense under Nigerian law.
“The commission will therefore continue to intercept, seize and prosecute cases involving such illicit importation and reproduction of religious and other copyrighted works in line with its statutory mandate,” he said.
He reaffirmed the commission’s resolve to intercept, seize and prosecute cases of illicit reproduction and importation of copyrighted materials in collaboration with the Nigeria Customs Service and other enforcement agencies.
He added that such efforts were in line with Nigeria’s obligations under the World Trade Organisation’s TRIPS Agreement to prevent the circulation of pirated goods.
He said that although infringing materials are typically subject to destruction, the commission adopted a culturally sensitive approach in handling religious texts.
“Out of profound respect for the sanctity of these text and the religious sensibilities of Nigerians, the commission considers it inappropriate to burn, tear or otherwise mutilate such materials even where they are infringing copies.
“Instead, seized bibles now clearly marked “NOT FOR SALE” are removed permanently from the channel of commerce and redirected for strictly non commercial humanitarian use particularly to correctional centres and similar rehabilitative purposes,” he said.
Asein further stressed that beyond legal implications, piracy raises moral and spiritual concerns, noting that religious teachings emphasise integrity, fairness and respect for others’ rights.
He called on religious leaders including pastors, imams, prophets and evangelists, to promote respect for copyright and discourage piracy among their followers.
“We urge religious institutions to lead by example by ensuring that all materials used for worship and teaching are lawfully sourced and properly licensed.
“The commission is reiterated to protecting the rights of creators, curbing piracy both offline and online, and promoting lawful access to knowledge,” he said.
He urged stakeholders to support efforts to build a culture that respects creativity, protects rights and upholds integrity.
