RismadarVoice Reporters
September 17, 2026
The Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, has proposed the establishment of a specialised police desk to tackle piracy, intellectual property theft, fraud and other crimes affecting Nigeria’s rapidly expanding creative industry.
The proposed Orange Economy Security and Intellectual Property Coordination Desk would provide a dedicated platform for security operations, reporting of offences, inter-agency collaboration and engagement with businesses and professionals in the creative sector.
Force Public Relations Officer, Ani Iniedu, disclosed the proposal in a statement on Wednesday following a lecture delivered by the IGP to participants of Senior Executive Course 48, 2026, at the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies, Kuru, Plateau State.
The lecture focused on the role of policing in supporting entrepreneurship and sustainable development within Nigeria’s creative economy.
POLICE TARGET PIRACY, COUNTERFEITING, ONLINE FRAUD
Disu identified film, music, fashion, publishing, advertising, digital content, gaming, tourism, heritage and the arts as important components of the creative economy increasingly driven by entrepreneurship, technology and intellectual property.
He said the industries could contribute more significantly to employment, investment and national development if creators, businesses and their intellectual assets were adequately protected.
Under the proposal, the specialised desk would operate within an appropriate existing police structure and support intelligence-led investigations into organised piracy, counterfeiting, cyber-enabled fraud and other crimes targeting creative enterprises.
The IGP also advocated financial investigations where necessary to trace proceeds suspected to be connected to criminal networks through payment accounts, digital wallets, advertising revenue, logistics networks and online distribution platforms.
He called for stronger collaboration between the police, the Nigerian Copyright Commission and other relevant agencies responsible for protecting intellectual property.
CONCERTS, FILM LOCATIONS, TOURISM SITES TO GET ATTENTION
The police chief also identified security at film locations, concerts, festivals, tourism destinations and cultural assets as areas requiring greater attention.
He called for improved responses to cybercrime, proper preservation of digital evidence and closer engagement between law enforcement agencies and creative communities.
Disu further linked employment and legitimate economic opportunities for young Nigerians with crime prevention, arguing that creating credible pathways from talent to lawful income could reduce vulnerability to criminal activities.
He warned that piracy, fraud and extortion could weaken businesses, discourage investment and undermine innovation within the sector.
The IGP stressed that policing efforts must also respect the rights and freedoms required for creative businesses to operate successfully.
The Nigeria Police Force said it would continue working with government agencies, industry stakeholders, entrepreneurs and creative professionals to strengthen intellectual property protection and improve security across the sector.
