The Nigerian government, through the Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC), in collaboration with the Nigeria Internet Registration Association (NiRA), has shut down MovieBox.ng, a popular website known for streaming pirated films, music, and live sports.
According to a statement released on Thursday by NCC's Director-General, Dr. John Asein, the shutdown took effect on July 20, 2025, marking a significant milestone in the agency's renewed campaign against digital copyright infringement.
Dr. Asein emphasized that the action is part of broader efforts to combat online piracy in Nigeria's growing entertainment industry. "They use multiple mirror domains to access and promote pirated content, with domain histories linked to known piracy operations," he stated.
The Director-General further highlighted the crucial role of internet stakeholders in enforcing copyright laws within the digital environment, noting that the shutdown has been positively received by rights holders across Nigeria's film, music, and broadcast sectors.
This development comes at a critical time for Nigeria's entertainment industry, which is currently valued at $4 billion and projected to grow significantly to $13.6 billion by 2028, according to estimates from PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC).
The shutdown of MovieBox.ng represents a tangible step in protecting intellectual property rights in Nigeria's digital space and potentially signals increased enforcement actions against similar piracy platforms operating in the country.
Industry experts suggest that such measures are essential to ensure sustainable growth in Nigeria's creative sectors, where content creators and distributors have long suffered significant revenue losses due to widespread piracy.
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