BSN is 50, laments activities of pirates

THE Bible Society of Nigeria, BSN, has called on the country’s law makers to assist publishers and other intellectual property owners in the country by reviewing general laws on piracy in Nigeria to put an end to the wicked activities of pirates. The General Secretary of BSN, Rev. Dare Ajiboye made the appeal while addressing journalists at the Bible Guest House in Lagos, on the activities lined up to mark the 50th anniversary of the Society come February next year.
Ajiboye lamented the worrisome attitude of some government agencies who collaborate with pirates to ship in pirated books and other printed materials including Bibles into the country.
According to him, BSN has decided to go spiritual since government and other interventions have not stopped the activities of Bible piracy in Nigeria, noting that those in the business of pirating intellectual property must not be allowed to enjoy the option of fine but rather must be made to bear the full weight of conviction behind bars.  He explained that such conviction will serve as a deterrent to others who might have been nursing hopes of venturing into piracy business.
“Piracy is a hydra-headed monster that we have gone spiritual and not waiting for government again because as you are quelling it in one part of the country, it’s surfacing in another part of the country in greater dimension”, Ajiboye said, adding “one thing I have realized is that these pirates cannot carry out their nefarious activities without having collaboration with some government agencies at the port that would help them to clear illegal goods.  “At times importers would declare electronic equipment, but what they have at the back of such packed goods are books or Bibles. If the Customs can do thorough investigation at the port, they will realize that there are Bibles hiding in such containers and arrest the importers. Chairman, National Planning Committee of the anniversary, Mr. Gbenga Olaleye revealed that the 50th anniversary will be celebrated with several activities from February 2 to February 8, 2016, adding that 100,000 free Bibles will be donated to prisons, remand homes, the visually impaired, students, orphanages and old people’s home.