Why Alaba market must be shut down, by Okoroji

THE Chairman, Copyright Society of Nigeria (COSON), Chief Tony Okoroji, has called on the Federal Government to shut down the popular Alaba International market in Lagos. He made this call while speaking at a media conference held at the office of the Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) in Lagos on Tuesday, this week, where six suspects arrested during a midnight raid at the market were paraded. Several pirated products, machines and other equipment worth millions of naira, used in the illegal trade were also seized.Chief Okoroji said that every attempt to get the market association at Alaba to curb the unspeakable amount of copyright infringement in the market which is seriously denting the image of the country and destroying the economy has fallen on deaf ears. He is definite that a strong message needs to be sent by the Federal Government to the traders in the market if the fight against intellectual property theft will be seen as serious.While addressing the media, the NCC Deputy Director, Enforcement, Mr. A. A. Amodu, said that the Commission is ready to pursue the pirates day and night until Alaba market is cleaned up. He also said that all those who are bent on stealing the fruits of other peoples' sweat would be made to face the new Nigerian Copyright Commission which is bent on 'enforcement, enforcement and enforcement'. He affirmed that in the last four months, the NCC has prosecuted and convicted 19 pirates in different courts across the country and that the enforcement and prosecution will be a continuous exercise.Speaking on the Alaba issue, Chief Okoroji said, 'We do not have anything against the people doing legitimate business at Alaba International market but the good people have been tarnished by the criminals in their midst and the market association continues to protect them. While young Nigerian musicians and actors are working day and night to produce great works, these criminals are busy reaping where they did not sow. This wicked act must be stopped to encourage the creativity of our youths who are doing the nation proud.'Also present at the media briefing were the General Manager of COSON, Mr. Chinedu Chukwuji; the NCC Zonal Manger, Lagos office, Mr. Chris Nkwocha; the Assistant Director, Enforcement, Mr. M. D.A Ojo and Mrs. Linda Alphaeus.
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