E-Business
LASRAB, IIM-Africa, Others Seek End to Intellectual Property Theft

The Lagos State Records and Archives Bureau (LASRAB) on 2015 International Archives Day convened a stakeholder meeting to chat way forward to confront copyright issues in Nigeria as it relate to the law, with the theme “Copyright: Interpreting the law for Archives & Allied Institutions”.
Discussants comprising archivists, Liberians, Lawyers and academia, among others in the Copyright business said it has become expedient to stop copyright infringement in Nigeria, even as the institute of Information Management (IIM-Africa) insisted that awareness creation is key.
However, Barrister Chris Nkwocha, zonal Director, Nigeria Copyright Commission (NCC), Lagos Operational Office and guest speaker at the Forum, said that it was imperative for copyright laws to be respected and adhered to by all in order to prevent litigation.
He submitted that it’s was high time the act of piracy was stopped as it has constituted a major economic loss to millions of creative minds in the country, a factor that has further limited research works and launching of unique ideas.
Barr. Nkwocha therefore, pointed that it was time to eradicate further piracy of multimedia materials like Films, musicals and documentaries, many visible in Alaba market, Lagos and other major stores including Books piracies many surfacing in Bookshops across the country.
He added that Archivist and Records users should always adhere to the law and see that owners of a work are properly communicated and attributed if their works must be used.
However, he said they are exception to the law, which is fair use, it states that there is freedom to use part of a material for educational purposes examples are students and researchers who use an Author’s book for the purpose of learning, research or education and not for commercial gains.
Other discussants at the event, reiterated the need to create a society where copyright laws thrive and offenders are punished.
The Discussants were: Mr. Folarin Fambegbe, Director, Golden Scepter; Dr. Tajudeen Ajani Lawal, Director, Lagos State Library Board; Mr. Habeeb Sanni, Lecturer, Department of History and International Studies, Lagos State University, Ojo; Mrs Adebukola Agbaminoja, Chief Council Ministry of Justice, Lagos State; Amb. (Dr.) Oyedokun O. Oyewole,
President, RIMa Foundation/ Chairman, Board of Trustees, Institute of Information Management-Africa and Mr. Biodun Onayele, DG, LASRB.
Mrs. Oluranti Odutola, permanent secretary, Ministry of Information and Strategy, Lagos State pointed that it was important for Archivists to be conversant with the law of copyright in order to professionally operate in line with best global practices.
“Archivists or Archives operators are custodians of enduring records, who provide necessary data and information as published by creators, preserve and present them on request to researchers and the general public. It is therefore important that they are conversant with the law and comprehend its implication for their profession- especially as it affects the intellectual property Rights of the Persons who created the records and archives in their custody. It is essential to find out if they are vicariously liable for the actions for the users of the materials in their custody.”
Barr. Nkwocha further urged other states in the country to borrow a leaf from LASRB activities and successes.
LASRAB was conceived in 1995 as a Public Sector reform programme for better management of Lagos State records for planning, policy process, enhanced service delivery and heritage preservation.
In 2002, it was accepted as the Integrated Records and Archives Management Programme (IRAMP), a sub-component of the World Bank-assisted State Governance and Capacity Building Programme (SGCBP) which later became the Lagos Metropolitan Development and Governance Project (LMDGP).
A member of the panel of discussants, Dr. Oyedokun Oyewole, president/chairman Governing Council, Institute of Information Management contended that there was need for more awareness of copyright laws urging the Government to better empower NCC in discharging its duties.
His words, “You will agree that awareness is not enough. There is need for more awareness to be created. The NCC should be more empowered to embark on several initiatives and ensure that the entire nation is covered. It is very disturbing to note that many people are not even aware about the existence of Nigerian Copyright Commission”.
LASRAB formally came into legal existence as a Lagos State Government agency pursuant to Law 22 of 2007; the Bureau is under the supervision of the Ministry of Information and Strategy.
Administratively, LASRAB took-off on 1st August, 2008 but effective operation began on 1st December, 2008, with the appointment and assumption of duty of the premier Director General.
E-Business
FG Enrolls 59,786 Inmates on NIN Platform

Federal government has said that it has successfully captured 59,786 inmates, representing approximately 74 percent of the total prison population into the National Identity Number (NIN) database.
This figure is based on a total of 80,879 inmates across 256 custodial centres across the country.
Abubakar Umar, spokesman, Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS), Deputy Controller of Corrections, who made this disclosure in a statement issued on Sunday in Abuja, dismissed recent media reports alleging that the NIN registration had yet to begin in custodial centres.
Umar described such report as misleading, inaccurate, and not representative of the current situation.
According to Umar, the NIN registration exercise within the correctional facilities was ongoing and has achieved substantial progress.
He credited the achievement to collaboration between the NCoS and the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), which has enabled successful enrollment of majority of inmates into the national identity database.
According to him, “As of June 7, 2025, a total of 59,786 inmates, roughly 74 percent cent of the total inmate population have been captured on the NIMC platform,” Umar said.
“Efforts are ongoing to register the remaining inmates, and necessary mechanisms have been established to ensure the seamless completion of the process.”
He emphasised that the assertion that NIN registration has not started in custodial centres was factually incorrect and overlooks the extensive work already carried out.
The Service reaffirmed its commitment to integrating all inmates into national data systems, including NIN registration, as part of broader efforts to support rehabilitation, reintegration, and digital inclusion for individuals in custody.
Umar also urged media outlets to confirm their information with appropriate authorities before publication to prevent the spread of misinformation that could undermine the Service’s progress and public understanding.
E-Business
NIMC Denies Blocking Police Commission from Verification Server

National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has clarified that all its verification service platforms remain fully functional and accessible to all authorized partners, including security agencies.

Abisoye Coker-Odusote, DG, NIMC
In a statement on Thursday, the Commission firmly denied claims that it had denied the Police Service Commission (PSC) access to its verification server.
Dr. Kayode Adegoke, head of Corporate Communications, NIMC, described the reported “inability of the Police Service Commission to access the NIMC verification server” as misleading and inaccurate.
He suggested that any challenges faced by the PSC may be due to internal issues within the commission itself, not from NIMC’s end.
The statement reads: “To set the record straight, the NIMC granted verification access to all Nigerian Police formations for the verification of the National Identification Number (NIN). The NPF, PSC and other security agencies have been enjoying uninterrupted verification services for over five years.
“NIMC has provided top-notch verification services for recruitment into the Nigeria Police Force, as conducted by the PSC and at no time have there been any complaints or issues regarding NIN Verification by the NPF or PSC.
“The Commission has a robust and harmonious working relationship with the Nigerian Police Force and the Police Service Commission. The Information Communications and Technology (ICT) department of the Nigeria Police Force is actively managing the long-standing verification and integration service between the NIMC and all Nigeria Police formations.Entertainment tourism packages
“NIMC will continue to provide flawless verification services for the purpose of recruitment, security mapping, cybercrime control, and any other security matters.
“The framework by which NIMC provides services to the security agencies was recently restructured for standardization and effective implementation, following consultation with the Office of the National Security Adviser, and NPF has confirmed the verification services have continued to be available. We therefore believe that any service interruption experienced by PSC may be due to internal matters.
“NIMC is committed to providing excellent verification services to the PSC, NPF and all its partners but the terms and conditions inherent must be adhered to for uninterrupted flow of service.”
E-Business
Nigeria Strengthens Cybersecurity, Launches National Cleanup Plan

Nigerian government, through the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) and the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), has announced a strategic collaboration to strengthen cybersecurity and clean up the nation’s cyberspace.
Recognizing that cybercrime knows no borders, Nigeria also reaffirmed its commitment to fostering stronger global partnerships within the cybersecurity ecosystem.
This announcement was made during a press conference before the inaugural National Cybersecurity Conference, which is scheduled to take place in Abuja from July 9th to 11th, 2025.
Sa’ad Abubakar, national cybersecurity coordinator from the Office of National Security Advisor, said fighting cybercrime must take the whole of society and the whole of the government approach.
According to him, “Apart from the deterrent approach whereby government agencies such as Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arrest individuals, take them to court and prosecute them, the youth can be nurtured into better citizens who can showcase their capacity in better ways and be useful to the country.”
Similarly, Kashifu Abdullahi, director-general, NITDA, also stressed the need for collaborative efforts in fighting cybercrimes.
According to him “Then, in addition to that, we also want to build a stronger global collaboration with the global cyber security ecosystem, because when you look at cybercrime in general, it doesn’t respect the borders.
“Someone can commit a crime from Ghana using a Nigerian ID in the US. So you can look at him physically in a different jurisdiction, pretending to be in another jurisdiction, committing the crime in another jurisdiction.
“So without that kind of synergy and working together, it will be difficult to address these challenges. The third one is challenge. The third one is getting an alternative to cybercrime for our kids in Nigeria. We have this as a major challenge.”
Inuwa further highlighted the upcoming conference’s importance, noting that it would tackle key issues through workshops, discussions on emerging threats, cross-border cybersecurity collaboration strategies, and training programmes.
He also announced that the National Cybersecurity Conference 2025 would feature the Cybersecurity Excellence Awards, recognising top contributions in the field.
The DG extended an invitation to global partners to collaborate with Nigeria in building a safer digital future.
The press conference was attended by notable figures, including Ahmad Sa’ad Abubakar, National Coordinator of, the National Cybersecurity Coordination Centre (NCCC); Hanniel Jafar, Representative of the President, of Cyber Security Experts Association of Nigeria (CSEAN); Ankit Shukla, Managing Director, QNA Marketing Management LLC and members of the press and other stakeholders.
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