EU flags Nigeria, others for intellectual property rights violations

The European Union has placed Nigeria on its latest priority watch list of countries with significant concerns over intellectual property rights (IPR) violations, citing persistent issues of counterfeiting, piracy, and weak enforcement frameworks.

In its 2025 biennial report on the Protection and Enforcement of IPR in Third Countries, the EU’s Trade and Economic Security Commission named Nigeria alongside China, India, Türkiye, Argentina, Brazil, Ecuador, Indonesia, and Thailand as countries that pose a high risk to European intellectual property holders.

The report warned that the proliferation of counterfeit goods and online piracy is severely damaging the EU economy.

In 2023 alone, 17.5 million fake items worth nearly €811 million were intercepted by EU customs. Many of these products, the report noted, originated from or passed through the countries flagged on the watch list.

China topped the EU’s list as its most pressing concern, followed by India and Türkiye. Nigeria was classified as a third-tier priority, grouped with other countries where IP protection efforts are considered insufficient or slow-moving.

“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.”

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 pointed out 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The report also criticised Nigeria’s outdated Patents and Designs Registry, citing long processing times and administrative inefficiencies.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.

In the area of copyright enforcement, the EU pointed to rampant online piracy and weak regulation of collective management organisations (CMOs).

Although the establishment of a new Online Copyright Inspectors Unit was noted as a positive step, the commission questioned its real-world impact so far.

Nigeria’s strategic role as a transit hub for counterfeit goods was also flagged. The report identified the country’s major seaports as key entry points for fake medical products, electronics, and fashion items, many of which are believed to be manufactured in China before being distributed across West Africa.

“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 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 the 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, funding, and institutional reforms.

EU flags Nigeria, others for intellectual property rights violations