Broadcasting
Asein, DG NCC says WIPO Office in Nigeria will Boost IP Development in Africa
Mr. John O. Asein, Director-General of Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC), says Nigeria will benefit immensely from the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) External Office newly established in Nigeria in the use of Intellectual Property (IP) as a catalyst for sustainable national economic development and enhanced growth in the Africa region.
He stated this while receiving the Programme Officer of the new WIPO Nigeria Office, Mr. Tobi Moody who paid a courtesy visit to NCC Headquarters in Abuja.
The Director-General used the opportunity to thank President Mohammadu Buhari GCFR, for not only attracting the WIPO External Office but also for the ratification of 4 major copyright treaties in October 2017, followed by a comprehensive Draft Copyright Bill approved by the Federal Executive Council.
He also expressed gratitude to the Honourable Attorney-General of the Federation and Ministers of Justice, Mallam Abubakar Malami, SAN and his Foreign Affairs counterpart, MR. Geoffrey Onyeama, for driving the intensely competitive process that culminated in Nigeria’s emergence as one of the two countries selected for establishment of the WIPO External Offices in Africa, the second being in Algeria.
Mr. Asein reassured the visiting WIPO official that Nigerian Government was committed to ensuring that the presence of the WIPO External Office in Nigeria would serve to boost the use of IP as a tool for employment generation and wealth creation for the hugely talented and creative people in Nigeria.
He assured that the Commission would support the WIPO External Office with needed competencies to enable it deliver on its mandate of ensuring that Nigeria and other African countries witnessed rapid growth in the use of IP for development.
The Director-General lauded the WIPO member-states and the Director-General of WIPO, Dr. Francis Gurry, for endorsing Nigeria as one of the hosts of the External Offices, adding that the development was an affirmation of Nigeria’s preeminent position and strategic importance in the world of IP.
According to him, while the presence of the WIPO External Office would enhance collaboration between Nigeria and WIPO, Government would uphold the delicate trust of hosting the Office by ensuring that the Office functioned effectively for the benefit of Nigeria and WIPO.
He further stated that the siting of the WIPO Office in Nigeria was a dream fulfilled and applauded the past Directors-General of NCC and the team whose hard work has paid off.
In his remarks, the WIPO Programme Officer, Mr. Tobi Moody, said he was in the country to set up the WIPO External Office which took off temporarily at the United Nation’s Office in Abuja on 22 January 2020.
He commended the several initiatives of NCC since 2009 that have resulted in the siting of the WIPO External Office in Nigeria despite competing interests in the region. He pledged to work with the Commission to improve IP administration in Nigeria and Africa as a whole.
Mr. Moody noted that the operation of the WIPO External Office was tied to the potentials of Nigeria’s creative industry, adding that the Office would leverage on the vision and institutional support of the Commission in view of the contributions of the copyright sector to the growth of IP in Nigeria.
He stated that a key role for the External Office was to complement the existing relationship of the national IP Offices and WIPO, adding that the programmes and structures of the Commission would be factored into designing the programmes for the WIPO External Office.
The WIPO programme officer also indicated that the External Office would collaborate with the NCC in ensuring adequate publicity for this year’s World IP Day, April 26, with the theme “Innovate for a Green Future”.
Competition and Consumer Protection Tribunal (CCPT) in Abuja has dismissed a class action suit filed by one Uche Diala and 961 other DStv and GOtv subscribers against MultiChoice Nigeria and the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), citing lack of jurisdiction.
The suit challenged MultiChoice’s subscription price increases in November 2023 and May 2024, which the claimants described as arbitrary, exploitative, and unfair.
Diala and others sought to reverse the hikes and compel the company to adopt a more flexible billing model, such as a pay-as-you-view system used in other countries like South Africa.
They also accused MultiChoice of price discrimination against Nigerian consumers.
MultiChoice, through its counsel, raised a preliminary objection, arguing that pricing decisions do not fall within the tribunal’s remit and that the suit was improperly filed as a class action without first seeking the tribunal’s leave.
In its ruling on Thursday, the tribunal’s three-member panel led by Justice Thomas Okosun held that the core issues raised, which were pricing and tariff regulation, fall under the exclusive purview of the executive branch, particularly the President, as stipulated under the Price Control Act.
“The issue of price regulation is a matter that falls within the exclusive purview of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” Okosun stated.
While the tribunal acknowledged it holds both original and appellate jurisdiction under the FCCPC Act, it emphasized that such authority does not cover general price control unless abuse of market dominance is established—a point the claimants failed to prove.
On the procedural matter of filing a class action without prior approval, the tribunal noted that although it is ideal to obtain leave, failure to do so was not fatal in this instance since the claimants demonstrated a shared grievance and common interest.
Nonetheless, the tribunal upheld MultiChoice’s objection, ruling that it lacked jurisdiction to adjudicate the matter.
“The preliminary objection of the first defendant succeeds,” the panel held. “This suit is accordingly struck out for want of jurisdiction.”
This ruling follows a similar outcome on May 8, when a Federal High Court in Abuja upheld MultiChoice’s price increases after the company sued the FCCPC.
In that judgment, Justice James Omotoso declared that the FCCPC lacked the authority to fix or suspend subscription rates.
MultiChoice Nigeria has slashed the price of its DStv decoder from N20,000 to N10,000, representing a 50 percent drop, in a aim at attracting attract more customers and curb declining subscriptions.
The campaign, titled “We’ve Got You,” was launched on June 16 and will continue until July 31.
Also, as part of its efforts to ease economic pressure on households and improve access to digital TV services, the campaign offers a free upgrade for both active and returning customers.
Speaking on the campaign, John Ugbe, chief executive officer (CEO) of MultiChoice Nigeria, said the initiative reflects the company’s commitment to rewarding loyalty and enhancing daily viewing experiences.
“We want to ensure our customers feel appreciated and have access to the best entertainment every day,” Ugbe said.
“The ‘We’veGot You’ campaign is about making premium content more accessible and showing that DStv offers something for everyone, not just football fans.
“By repositioning itself as a platform for daily value, DStv aims to encourage content discovery across a wider array of genres, including movies, drama, kids’ programming, and news.
“This means more channels, more shows, and more reasons to tune in every day.”
The development comes amid MultiChoice Nigeria’s legal battle with the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) over price hike.
Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) will, on Oct. 7, arraigned the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Qatar Airways, Mr Temi Birdzell, alongside the company and its top officers, over allegations bordering on breach of FCCPC Act, 2018.
The defendants will be arraigned before Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja.
Others to be arraigned with Birdzell are Stella Ihediwa, the Account Manager of the airline; Kennedy Chirchir, the Country Manager and Eva Ojeje, who is the Sales Manager of the company.
Although the arraignment was scheduled for Tuesday, the matter could not proceed.
Upon resumed hearing, none of the defendants was in court.
When the matter was called on Tuesday, none of the defendants was in court due to improper service of the court documents, including the hearing notice, on them.
FCCPC.’s lawyer, Chizenum Nsitem, told the court of their inability to serve four of the defendants, although the company was served.
Nsitem then sought an adjournment to enable them do the needful and the judge adjourned the matter until Oct. 7 for the defendants to take their plea.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the commission, in the charge marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/200/2025, dragged Qatar Airways, Birdzell, Ihediwa, Chirchir and Ojeje to court as 1st to 5th defendants respectively.
FCCPC, in the application dated May 26 but filed May 27, had preferred a two-count charge against the defendants.
The defendants were alleged to have failed to appear before FCCPC in compliance with a lawful summons of the commission dated Sept. 6, 2024, and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 33 (3) of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection (FCCPC) Act, 2018.
They were also accused to have on Sept. 18, 2024, intentionally withheld the production of documents in compliance wth a lawful summons of the commission, thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 111 of FCCP Act, 2018.
In count three, they were alleged to have on Sept. 18, 2024, engaged in the contravention of the consumer rights, thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 124(1) and punishable under Section 155 of the same Act.
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