The Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) has secured the suspension of several .ng domain names implicated in the large-scale, unauthorised distribution of copyrighted music and other creative works.
The enforcement action followed a formal request by the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI) and was carried out in collaboration with the Nigerian Internet Registration Association (NiRA).
The affected domains—now taken offline by their respective registrars—include val9ja.com.ng, tunesloaded.com.ng, voxnaija.com.ng, music.360media.com.ng, medianub.com.ng, naijalevels.com.ng and mp3juice.com.ng.
According to the Commission’s Special Taskforce Against Online Piracy (STOP), the websites were found to be engaging in “blatant copyright infringement” by illegally sharing unlicensed music and audiovisual content belonging to Nigerian and international rights holders. Their activities, the Commission noted, undermined legitimate digital platforms and deprived creators and investors of rightful revenue.
“This intervention is part of the NCC’s robust and ongoing enforcement programme under the Copyright Act, 2022, which empowers the Commission to safeguard creators’ rights and curb online copyright violations across websites, streaming platforms, and other digital channels,” the NCC said in a statement made available to The Guardian.
The Commission added that it worked closely with NiRA throughout the process and continues to engage domain registrars to ensure the swift suspension of any .ng domain found to be in breach of copyright law.
“The Commission remains committed to ensuring a safe, lawful, and thriving digital environment for Nigeria’s creative economy,” the statement said.
Reaffirming the NCC’s resolve to intensify online enforcement efforts, Director-General Dr. John Asein stated that the suspensions send a strong message that Nigeria will not tolerate digital piracy. He thanked NiRA and the affected registrars for their cooperation and assured rights holders that the Commission—working with national and international partners—will continue to strengthen its anti-piracy strategies.
Asein also urged the public to report suspicious platforms or online activities through stop.copyright.gov.ng.
“The Nigerian Copyright Commission remains vigilant and fully prepared to take decisive action against all forms of copyright infringement to safeguard Nigeria’s creative space and its digital future,” he said.
As part of its renewed crackdown on online piracy, the NCC—again with NiRA’s support—recently secured the suspension of MovieBox.ng, a website known for streaming pirated content, including movies, music, and live sports from Nigeria and abroad.
