Mr. Afam Ezekude, the Director General of the Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC), said on Tuesday that the commission prosecuted 179 suspected pirates while 53 were convicted in the last four years.

Ezekude made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.

The commission, he said, was able to achieve the feat due to its determination to completely check piracy in the country.

“I declared a zero tolerance to piracy when I came on board as the Chief Executive of NCC in 2011.

“I designed a proactive enforcement and prosecution plan that had yielded results.”

Ezekude also said the commission carried out 210 anti-piracy raids across the country between January 2011 and June 2015.

He said the operations led to the arrest of some 459 suspected pirates and the seizure of 7.6 million pirated items from Nigerian markets.

“These anti-piracy raids, in the last four years, were carried out in endemic piracy havens which included Alaba International market and Onitsha market among others.

“It has also led to the seizure of 44 containers of pirated DVDs, CDs and books coming from Asia.

“The total value of seizure the commission has made since January 2011 till June 2015 is about N8billion.”

The NCC boss also said that the commission was working closely with some local and foreign partners in the war against piracy.

“The commission had collaborated and developed close working relationship with the Nigeria Customs Service, EFCC, NDLEA and the Nigerian Police.

“Some of our partners include the World Customs Organisations, the US Patent and Trademarks Office and the United Kingdom Intellectual Property Office.”

He, however, enjoined Nigerians, especially right owners, to support the commission by providing useful information to enable it wage he war against piracy successfully.

“People should not shy away from providing useful information on piracy as we shall act immediately we receive such information.

“We must cooperate to fight this cankerworm that destroys our economy and deprives people of getting the rewards of their hard work.”

NAN reports that the NCC was established in 1988 to promote the growth of the creative industry in Nigeria through the dissemination of copyright knowledge, efficient administration and protection of rights. (NAN)

•Photo shows Copyright Commission DG, Afam Ezekude.