Nigeria’s music icon, Innocent Idibia, popularly known as Tuface, has
urged Nigerians to shun pirated intellectual materials, just like
adulterated drugs.
Idibia said: “If pirated copyright materials do not have people to buy
them, they will stay on the shop shelves and the shops will eventually
close.
“But if we continue to patronise them, the pirates will continue to sell.”
Idibia, who spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria in Lagos, also
implored the government and agencies saddled with the enforcement of
anti-piracy laws to be decisive in the clamp down on culprits.
“They are criminals, just like the thieves we catch on the streets,” he said.
According to him, the agencies should go all out and eliminate piracy
as no crime syndicate should be stronger than the government.
He said: “We know that it cannot be wiped out in one day.
“It will take time, but we all should come on board and start on the right path.
“To be honest with you, corruption is the reason why piracy is still a
major issue in Nigeria.
“If radio stations are not paying royalties, government should know
that they are losing a lot.
“They should help artistes get royalties, so that we can also pay tax
for the nation’s development.
“If the government knows that these artistes have to pay heavy taxes
and they are going to make a lot of money from collecting these taxes,
they will do something.”
Idibia expressed disappointment that the police could not see people
who sell pirated compact discs and other copyright materials as
criminals.
He said: “If you complain, the police will look at you, just like you
want to deny these boys of their means of livelihood.
“They do not even know it’s a crime and it is a punishable offence.
“So, it is a serious issue.”
Idibia said that his desire was to see the return of high quality
music to Nigeria in terms of production and its packaging.
“When this happens and you sell it for the appropriate price, we will
be able to make more money and be able to compete with our
counterparts in other parts of the world,” he said.
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