The Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) has successfully secured the suspension of MovieBox.ng, a notorious online platform streaming pirated movies, music, and live sports from Nigeria and abroad.
The Nigeria Internet Registration Association (NiRA), custodian of the country’s top-level domain, executed the suspension on July 20, 2025, in partnership with the NCC.
NCC Director General Dr. John Asein described the move as a landmark step in Nigeria’s renewed war against online piracy, earning commendation from key rightsholder groups in the film, music, and broadcast industries. A preliminary NCC report revealed that MovieBox.ng operated through a network of mirror and clone domains designed to evade detection, a pattern consistent with organized digital piracy.
Dr. Asein praised NiRA’s swift action and called on Internet Service Providers and other online intermediaries to comply promptly with takedown notices and blocking directives under the Copyright Act 2022. He added that efforts are underway to deactivate all mirror sites linked to the platform.
The NCC warned the public against using free streaming sites, highlighting the risks of malware, identity theft, and financial scams. The commission’s Stand Together Against Online Piracy (STOP) campaign continues to rally stakeholders to protect Nigeria’s creative industry and secure its digital future.
