Friday, May 23, 2025 - The European Union on Thursday, May 22, identified Nigeria among the countries posing significant concerns over intellectual property rights violations.
China, India, Türkiye, Argentina, Brazil, Ecuador,
Indonesia, and Thailand were also placed on the EU's latest priority watch
list.
The EU’s Trade and Economic Security Commission, in its
biennial report on the Protection and Enforcement of IPR in Third Countries,
warned that counterfeiting and piracy are causing serious harm to the European
economy.
In 2023, EU customs seized 17.5m counterfeit items worth
nearly €811m at its borders. Online piracy was also reported to be on the
rise.
Highlighting the economic stakes, the commission noted that
IPR-intensive industries contribute nearly half of the EU’s annual GDP and over
80 percent of its exports.
These industries are vital for sustainable job creation and
economic stability.
The report classified China as the top concern for the EU,
followed by India and Türkiye.
Nigeria, alongside Argentina, Brazil, Ecuador, Indonesia,
and Thailand, falls into the third priority group.
“China remains a top priority for EU efforts to protect the
Intellectual Property Rights of its businesses, innovators or creators,
followed closely by India and Türkiye as second priority countries. Argentina,
Brazil, Ecuador, Indonesia, Nigeria and Thailand are third priority countries,”
it added.
The EU acknowledged some progress in Nigeria, including
efforts to strengthen its IP regime through legislative reforms such as the new
Nigeria Customs Service Act and the implementation of a national IP policy
launched in 2022.
However, it expressed concern that these measures have yet
to deliver sufficient results.
A significant issue cited was the failure to pass the
Industrial Property Commission Bill introduced in 2016, which aimed to
harmonise existing IP laws and establish a national industrial property
commission.
The EU noted that without incorporating international
agreements like the TRIPS Agreement into national law, Nigeria’s IP framework
remains inadequate.
The report also criticised the slow and outdated
administrative processes in the Nigerian Patents and Designs Registry, which
hinder the registration of trademarks and certification marks. It pointed
out that Nigeria lacks a dedicated system for registering Geographical
Indications, further complicating protection.
“Nigeria continues to implement its National Intellectual
Property Policy And Strategy adopted in 2022, which seeks to promote a
comprehensive IP ecosystem as a catalyst for harnessing the full potential of
IPR for socio-cultural development and sustainable economic growth,” it
stressed.
In the area of copyright enforcement, stakeholders noted
high levels of online piracy and a lack of transparency among collective
management organizations.
While legislative changes have introduced new measures such
as the Online Copyright Inspectors Unit, their effectiveness remains to be
seen.
The commission further highlighted Nigeria’s role as a
gateway for counterfeit goods entering West Africa, particularly through its
seaports. These goods include counterfeit medicines, electronics, and
fashion items, many of which originate from China.
“Nigeria’s major seaports serve as maritime gateways for the
import of counterfeit products,
including counterfeit medical products, mainly into West
Africa.
Nigeria is a transit point for fake electronics and
electrical equipment manufactured in China for re-export to other West African
countries,” it further stated.
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