The Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC), in close collaboration with the Nigeria Internet Registration Association (NiRA), has successfully orchestrated the shutdown of MovieBox.ng, a widely known website alleged to have been engaged in the unauthorized streaming of pirated movies, music, and live sporting events to the public.
In an official press release issued on Thursday in Abuja, the NCC’s Director of Public Affairs, Mrs. Ijeoma Egbunike, confirmed that the suspension of the MovieBox.ng domain took place on July 20, 2025. This move was further validated by the Director-General of the Commission, Dr. John Asein, who reiterated the NCC’s firm stance against digital copyright violations.
According to Dr. Asein, the decisive action forms part of an intensified enforcement drive under the commission’s ongoing anti-piracy initiative titled “Stand Together Against Online Piracy (STOP).” He explained that this campaign has garnered substantial backing from various stakeholders across Nigeria’s creative sectors, including the film, music, and broadcast industries.
“They use multiple mirror domains to access and promote pirated content, with domain histories linked to known piracy operations,” Asein said, highlighting how MovieBox.ng operated under the radar using sophisticated digital tools to evade previous enforcement efforts and takedown requests.
Dr. Asein commended NiRA for its timely response in suspending the website’s domain, calling it a model example of how responsive partnerships can yield results in combating online intellectual property theft. He also urged internet service providers, domain registrars, hosting companies, and other digital intermediaries to cooperate fully with future takedown efforts in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Copyright Act, 2022.
The Commission further disclosed that its monitoring team remains actively engaged in tracking and disabling additional mirror sites and fallback domains associated with the MovieBox.ng network, in an attempt to dismantle the broader infrastructure supporting illicit digital content distribution.
Additionally, the NCC issued a strong public advisory, warning the general public to refrain from using illegal streaming platforms. The Commission emphasized that beyond being illegal, such websites often pose serious cyber risks, including the spread of malware, exposure to identity theft, and susceptibility to financial fraud.
This development signals a clear message that the NCC, in alliance with other regulatory and digital service stakeholders, is committed to safeguarding Nigeria’s creative economy from the growing menace of online piracy.