Several.ng domain names have been suspended by the Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) due to allegations that they are involved in extensive online music pirate activities including both foreign and Nigerian music.
The Nigerian Internet Registration Association (NiRA), the organization in charge of managing the.ng domain, worked with the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI) to carry out the action in response to their request.
Following the discovery that they were disseminating unlicensed music and audiovisual works, the impacted websites—val9ja.com.ng, tunesloaded.com.ng, voxnaija.com.ng, music.360media.com.ng, medianub.com.ng, naijalevels.com.ng, and mp3juice.com.ng—were taken offline through their registrars.
The NCC’s Special Taskforce against Online Piracy (STOP) claims that the websites have been unlawfully disseminating copyrighted information, robbing investors and producers of money, and damaging respectable online platforms.
According to the commission, the intervention is a component of its continuous enforcement campaign under the Copyright Act 2022, which gives it the authority to look into and stop online copyright infringements on websites, streaming services, and digital distribution channels.
The suspension of the domains sends a clear message that Nigeria would not put up with digital piracy, according to Dr. John Asein, Director-General of the NCC. He assured copyright holders that the NCC is collaborating with domestic and foreign partners to bolster anti-piracy operations while praising NiRA and the participating registrars.
In order to safeguard Nigeria’s creative economy, he urged the public to report dubious websites via stop.copyright.gov.ng, adding that the Commission is still ready to take action against any copyright violators.
Asein stated, “To protect Nigeria’s creative space and its digital future, the Nigerian Copyright Commission remains vigilant and fully prepared to take decisive action against all forms of copyright infringement.”
