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FG Imposes Tax on Tech Devices, Others
The federal government yesterday granted the Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) approval to impose levy on materials capable of being used for copyright infringement in a bid to compensate right owners for the loss that they would obviously suffer from the illicit copying of their works.
But there is something strange about that levy to compensate the victims of a supposed “crime” because in simple language it is a tax on blank media that is supposed to compensate copyright holders for a supposed “loss” from copies made for personal use.
Imagine a levy on devices like photocopying machines, MP3 players, digital juke box, mobile phones, CD recorders, DVD recorders, Blu Ray recorders, computer external hard drives, analogue audio recorders, analogue video recorders, personal computers, printing plates, printers/printing machines, radio/TV Sets enabling recording, camcorders and decoders/signal receivers.
Mr. Mohammed Bello Adoke, attorney-general of the federation and minister of Justice who issued the approval said thatthe Copyright (Levy of Materials) Order 2012, permits the implementation of a regime of levy on some materials capable of being used to infringe copyright.
Adoke said that this was granted in accordance with the provisions of Section 40 of the Copyright Act, Cap C28, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
The section empowers the Attorney-General of the Federation to make an order to be published in the official gazette of the Federal republic of Nigeria regarding the payment of levy in respect of any material used or capable of being used to infringe copyright in a work
The approval, conveyed to Mr. Afam Ezekude, director-general of the Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC), in a letter reference, NCRC/DSD/10/I dated November 15, 2012, allows the Commission to issue the Copyright (Levy of Materials) Order 2012 by publication of same in the official gazette.
Ezekude indicated that the materials regulated by the levy imposed by the new Copyright Order include storage media like audio cassettes, mini discs, CDs, DVDs, Blu-ray, SD memory cards, video cassettes, USB flash drives, I-Pods and photocopying paper.
Others are equipment and devices like photocopying machines, MP3 players, digital juke box, mobile phones, CD recorders, DVD recorders, Blu Ray recorders, computer external hard drives, analogue audio recorders, analogue video recorders, personal computers, printing plates, printers/printing machines, Radio/TV Sets enabling recording, camcorders and decoders/signal receivers.
According to him, the proceeds of the levy would be payable to a special fund to be created by the Commission in line with Section 40(3) of the Copyright Act.
“The Commission is expected to disburse the funds to beneficiaries who are essentially approved collective management organisations (CMOs) subject to retaining 10 per cent of the collected levy for administrative purposes of agencies that would be involved in the implementation of the scheme”, he stated, adding, “The Order also permits the Commission to retain 20 per cent of the fund for anti-piracy purposes; and 10 per cent for promotion of creativity”, he stated.
The director-general noted that the compulsory levy provision was one of the pro-author provisions of the Nigerian Copyright Act, aimed at controlling acts of piracy and copyright abuses such as excessive photocopying and unauthorised reproduction of copyright works being carried out in circumstances that could not be subjected to voluntary licensing by right owners but which activities undermined the legitimate interests of copyright owners.
Ezekude observed that the lot of Nigerian copyright owners has been adversely affected, particularly with the advent of more advanced reproduction technologies which facilitate illicit copying either for commercial exploitation or for unauthorised private use, thereby denying copyright industries and the nation the benefit of maximizing the revenue derivable from these sectors.
“The new Copyright Levy Order is thus informed by the need to compensate right owners for the loss that they would obviously suffer from the illicit copying of their works, and to maintain an acceptable international standard of protection that would ensure the betterment of the lot of authors,” he stated.
“In order to address concerns of legitimate users of materials which are subject to the levy, and other activities which may not undermine the interest of authors, the new Levy Order provides for the Minister (in this case, the Honourable Attorney-General of the Federation) to exempt any class of materials from the payment of any levy. In addition to such exemption, the levy payable under the new Order does not apply to materials manufactured in Nigeria for purposes of export. Similarly, Institutions that represent persons with disability as may be approved by the Minister are also exempted from payment of the levy”, he added.
The director-general who pointed out that the new copyright Order received inputs of relevant stakeholders in the copyright industries, called on copyright stakeholders and relevant agencies of government to partner with the Commission to actualise the new levy Order.
He assured that as Nigeria was being repositioned to reap the gains of the new transformation agenda, through the proposed reform of the Copyright system recently launched by the Commission, the implementation of the Order would strengthen the economic position of creators, encourage investment, generate revenue for government, discourage piracy and other abuses as well as provide incentive for more creativity.
The approval is coming as most governments around the world are rethinking the copyright levy system because of its controversial nature and some are already replacing it with new system of payment of copyright levies that are charged to the government’s general budget.
The amounts paid as compensation are determined taking into account the harm caused to the author.
The Chartered Institute of Bankers (CIBN) and the Association of Corporate Communication and Marketing Professionals in Banks (ACAMB) have enjoined banks to further deepen and prioritize financial inclusion, women’s empowerment and sustained growth through strategic mandates and frameworks, aimed at closing the financial gap and empowering more small, and medium enterprise (MSME) owners.
Both organisations made this call during a courtesy visit to the newly invested 24th President and Chairman of Council of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN), Dr. Dele Alabi, Ph.D, FCIB, as part of plans to congratulate him on his investiture as well as seek a stronger alliance between both bodies.
The visit followed Alabi’s investiture where he unveiled his “IMPACT” Vision, themed “Consolidating Our Local Impact, Enhancing Our Global Relevance.”
The vision rests on six pillars: Inclusion across geographic, gender, and generational lines; Membership growth and quality; Professionalism and ethics; Accountability; Competencies and skills development; Technology, automation, and innovation. Other areas of shared interest, include women empowerment, financial inclusion and literacy, as well as MSME clinics, all of which are top on his agenda.
Alabi explained that under him, the institute will be prioritising financial inclusion and women empowerment, because of its realisation that women are often the primary financial managers and caregivers in families. Access to savings, micro-credit, and insurance acts as a safety net during crisis and allows them to significantly improve living conditions.
He added that CIBN would be happy to drive joint knowledge sharing and exchange sessions with CBN and ACAMB across various platforms. “Educating the public through public awareness programmes, with ACAMB as the rallying point, is central to what we do,” he noted.
ACAMB President, Jide Sipe, who led the delegation, spoke in unison with the CIBN president, as he noted that, closing the inbalances in financial access help economies grow faster, reduces inequality, and encourages greater civic participation by all.
Lagos State has become the first sub-national government in Nigeria to establish a comprehensive Greenhouse Gas Registry, a move aimed at strengthening climate governance, improving emissions accountability and accelerating the state’s transition to a low-carbon economy.
The Lagos State Greenhouse Gas Registry (LGHGR) was unveiled at the Central Business District, Alausa, Ikeja, at a ceremony attended by Prof. Akin Abayomi, commissioner for Health, members of the State Executive Council, representatives of the Federal Ministry of Environment, development partners, TPHG Technologies, the diplomatic and business communities, academics, civil society organisations and the media.
Describing the initiative as a landmark achievement in the state’s environmental sustainability drive, Dr. Babatunde Ajayi, general manager of the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA), said the Registry marks a defining moment in Lagos’ climate action journey and reflects Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s commitment to building a resilient, climate-smart and environmentally sustainable economy.
According to Ajayi, the digital platform will enable the state to accurately measure, monitor, report and verify greenhouse gas emissions across key sectors, providing credible data to guide environmental policies and climate interventions.
He said the Registry would strengthen evidence-based decision-making, improve transparency and accountability, support national and international climate reporting obligations, unlock carbon market opportunities and boost investor confidence in Lagos’ environmental initiatives.
Ajayi also commended TPHG Technologies for providing the technical expertise that made the pioneering project possible.
Delivering the keynote address, Prof. Abayomi described the Registry as a major milestone that positions Lagos at the forefront of climate governance and emissions accountability in both Nigeria and Africa.
He noted that climate change has evolved into a significant public health and governance challenge, stressing that access to reliable emissions data would enable the state to formulate evidence-based policies, attract climate financing, strengthen resilience and accelerate its transition to a low-carbon economy.
Providing insights into the technical framework of the project, Dr. Mofoluso Fagbeja, lead consultant and chief executive officer, TPHG Technologies, explained that the Registry was developed from the greenhouse gas inventory jointly undertaken by LASEPA and TPHG Technologies in 2022, using 2019 as the baseline year for emissions assessment.
He said the platform is designed to close critical emissions data gaps, particularly within the industrial sector, while supporting effective climate policy implementation, emissions management and sustainable development.
Fagbeja also disclosed that the greenhouse gas inventory estimated that poor air quality contributes to about 35,000 premature deaths annually in Lagos, underscoring the urgent need for stronger emissions control measures and cleaner environmental practices.
In a goodwill message, Balarabe Abbas Lawal, minister of Environment, represented by Mrs. Adenaike Olunimpe Oludunni, federal controller of Environment in Lagos, commended Lagos State for pioneering the initiative, describing it as a significant contribution to Nigeria’s climate commitments.
He said the Registry aligns with the country’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement and supports the Federal Government’s Energy Transition Plan, while reaffirming the ministry’s commitment to deeper collaboration with Lagos State on climate governance and environmental sustainability.
A recently released Henley Passport Index 2026, showed that Nigerian citizens can travel to at least 20 destinations outside the African continent where entry is allowed either visa-free, with a visa on arrival (VOA) at no extra cost, or via an e-visa.
This expanded access opens doors for Nigerian travellers to experience countries in the Caribbean, Asia, and beyond with greater ease.
Below is a comprehensive guide to countries outside Africa which Nigerian passport holders can visit without a traditional visa.
Visa-Free Countries outside Africa for Nigerian Passport Holders:
Barbados
Cambodia – Visa on arrival
Comoros Islands – Visa on arrival
Cook Islands
Dominica
Fiji
Haiti
Iran – Visa on arrival
Kiribati
Lebanon
Maldives – Visa on arrival
Micronesia
Montserrat
Niue – Visa on arrival
Palau Islands – Visa on arrival
Samoa – Visa on arrival
St. Kitts and Nevis
Timor-Leste – Visa on arrival
Tuvalu
Vanuatuul
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