The European Union has placed Nigeria on its priority watch list of countries with significant concerns over intellectual property rights (IPR) violations, according to the EU's 2025 biennial report on the Protection and Enforcement of IPR in Third Countries.
Nigeria was listed alongside China, India, Türkiye, Argentina, Brazil, Ecuador, Indonesia, and Thailand as nations posing high risks to European intellectual property holders. The EU Trade and Economic Security Commission classified Nigeria as a third-tier priority country where IP protection efforts are considered insufficient.
"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," the report stated. "Argentina, Brazil, Ecuador, Indonesia, Nigeria and Thailand are third priority countries."
The EU report warned that the proliferation of counterfeit goods and online piracy is severely damaging the European economy. In 2023 alone, EU customs intercepted 17.5 million fake items worth nearly €811 million, with many originating from or passing through the flagged countries.
While acknowledging some reform initiatives in Nigeria, including the National IP Policy adopted in 2022 and revisions under the new Nigeria Customs Service Act, the EU expressed disappointment that these changes have not yet yielded meaningful enforcement outcomes.
A major setback highlighted was Nigeria's failure to pass the Industrial Property Commission Bill, first introduced in 2016. The bill aimed to unify existing IP laws and create a central agency to oversee industrial property rights.
The report also criticized Nigeria's outdated Patents and Designs Registry, citing long processing times and administrative inefficiencies. Furthermore, the absence of a dedicated system for Geographical Indications (GIs) was said to hinder the protection of region-specific goods and produce.
Nigeria's strategic role as a transit hub for counterfeit goods was specifically flagged in the report. "Nigeria's major seaports serve as maritime gateways for the import of counterfeit products, including counterfeit medical products. Nigeria is a transit point for fake electronics and electrical equipment manufactured in China for re-export to other West African countries," the EU stated.
Additional barriers to effective enforcement identified include underfunded agencies, lack of training for customs and judicial officials, and limited access to modern technology within the courts, resulting in inconsistent and delayed rulings on IP cases.
Despite these challenges, the EU report noted that Nigeria's National Intellectual Property Policy and Strategy holds potential for long-term progress if matched with strong political will, adequate funding, and institutional reforms.
