Legendary Nigerian music artiste Innocent Idibia, better known as Tuface, has urged Nigerians to avoid purchasing pirated intellectual materials same way they would adulterated drugs.
Speaking on Friday with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the multi award-winning songster observed that without the patronage of buyers, pirated copyright materials would not thrive and the crime would eventually cease. He also urged the government and agencies tasked with enforcing anti-piracy laws to go about their job with ruthlessness.
“They are criminals, just like the thieves we catch on the streets,” he said of pirates. “We know that it [piracy] cannot be wiped out in one day; it will take time, but we all should come on board and start on the right path.
“To be honest with you, corruption is the reason why piracy is still a major issue in Nigeria. If radio stations are not paying royalties, government should know that they are losing a lot. They should help artistes get royalties, so that we can also pay tax for the nation’s development.”
Tuface lamented the disposition of the Police to piracy, wondering why the security agency would view pirates as business men who should not be stripped of their livelihood rather than the criminals that they are.
“If you complain, the Police will look at you, just like you want to deny these boys of their means of livelihood,” he said. “They do not even know it’s a crime, and it is a punishable offence; so, it is a serious issue.”
