MultiChoice Nigeria, the operator of DStv, led a coalition of creatives in an anti-piracy march through Lagos on Thursday.
The event aimed to raise awareness about the growing threat of online content theft to Nigeria’s entertainment industry.
Participants, including actors, filmmakers, and musicians, marched from Ikeja City Mall, distributing flyers and displaying “Say No to Piracy” branded apparel.
The march was part of a broader campaign against digital piracy, which continues to undermine investment in Nigeria’s film, television, and music sectors.
Participants warned that unsustainable revenue losses threaten to stagnate the country’s booming entertainment industry, calling for stronger public support and enforcement.
MultiChoice Nigeria’s Executive Head of Corporate Affairs,
Caroline Oghuma, stated the company joined the protest to highlight piracy’s human cost, especially for creatives who rely on royalties, cinema revenue, and licensing fees.
“A lot of people have consumed pirated content without realising it is a crime,” she told reporters at the campaign. “It may look like a free opportunity, but on the back end, someone else is paying the price. Producers cannot recover their costs, loans cannot be repaid, and livelihoods are destroyed.”
Oghuma revealed that during the last season of Big Brother Naija, authorities identified and removed a staggering six million illegal streams of the show on Instagram alone, with similar piracy occurring on Telegram, TikTok, YouTube, and Facebook.
She added that MultiChoice is combating piracy through enhanced education, including school outreach and public campaigns, as well as by working with global tech platforms to remove unauthorized content.
Despite Nigeria’s entertainment industry experiencing exponential growth over the past two decades, digital piracy remains a severe threat, siphoning off substantial income and discouraging investment. In response, the Nigerian Copyright Commission is taking action.
The Commission’s Deputy Director of Operations, Charles Amudipe, reported that the agency has intensified its clampdown, shutting down more than 20 illegal streaming sites in the last two months alone.
“Piracy has moved to the Internet space, and the Nigerian Copyright Commission is moving with it,” he said. “We have shut down over 20 websites that were broadcasting works illegally for commercial gain, and we are continuing our enforcement.”
Amudipe confirmed the recent arrest of a prominent pirate operator, who is now facing legal action.
He stressed that public enlightenment is a core part of the NCC’s mandate, making its support for the march essential.
According to stakeholders, meaningful progress will require a combination of stricter enforcement, industry collaboration, and greater public awareness.
Organizers announced the campaign will expand into schools, communities, and online with a renewed focus on educating youth about intellectual property.
Award-winning director Obi Emelonye, a participant in the march, condemned piracy as a “long-standing scourge” that systematically deprives creatives of their rightful earnings.
“Piracy hurts the entire industry,” he said. “People spend their blood, sweat, and tears making films, only for someone to hijack the work. You are taking food off people’s tables.”
