President Muhammadu Buhari has directed law enforcement agencies to step up their efforts to curb the menace of pirates in Nigeria’s entertainment industry.
He said the directive was necessary so that artistes can enjoy the fruits of their labour.
The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, disclosed this in a statement made available to journalists on Tuesday.
Adesina said Buhari gave the directive after receiving a briefing from the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Information, Dr. Folasade Yemi-Esan and her directors at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
“Nollywood is making progress. We should work with them. Unless they are backed, they will be ruined by pirates who want to reap where they have not sowed.
“They have built an industry with their own sweat. It is therefore incumbent on us to give them the necessary support,” Buhari reportedly told the delegation.
The President also charged law enforcement agencies to identify the perpetrators of copyright piracy, their sponsors and collaborators, and bring them to justice.
He also charged the Nigeria Television Authority and the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria to tap into the opportunities presented by their wide reach to shore up their revenue profiles.