NCC Shuts Down Popular Streaming Website Showing Free Movies, Sports Channels in Nigeria
- A popular movie website where Nigerians watch free movies and also sports events has been suspended in Nigeria
- The Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC), with support from NiRA, secured the ban due to piracy
- The NCC has warned Nigerians about the dangers of visiting illegal websites due to the risk of malware and financial fraud
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Legit.ng journalist Dave Ibemere has over a decade of experience in business journalism, with in-depth knowledge of the Nigerian economy, stocks, and general market trends.
The Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) has announced the suspension of MovieBox.ng, a popular website accused of streaming pirated movies, music, and live sports content.
John Asein, Director General of NCC, in a statement, said that the website shutdown in Nigeria was made possible with the support of the Nigeria Internet Registration Association (NiRA).
Source: Getty Images
The Commission described the suspension as part of its renewed campaign against online piracy.
Part of the statement reads:
“As part of its renewed crackdown on online piracy, the Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC), in collaboration with the Nigeria Internet Registration Association (NiRA), the body responsible for managing Nigeria’s country code top-level domain, has successfully secured the suspension of MovieBox.ng, a website notorious for illegally streaming copyrighted content, including movies, music, and live sports from Nigeria and abroad.
"In a preliminary report, the Commission described the platform’s operations as a coordinated scheme to sustain piracy through the use of clone and fallback domains.
"The report further revealed that MovieBox.ng employed multiple mirror sites to avoid detection and continue distributing copyrighted materials, with a domain history that matches known patterns of piracy networks."
Asein urged the public to steer clear of websites that offer free streaming and downloads, warning that such platforms not only violate copyright laws but also expose users to cybersecurity threats such as malware, identity theft, and financial fraud, the nation reports.
He also commended NiRA’s prompt response and called on other internet service providers and intermediaries to act swiftly on takedown notices and blocking directives, in line with the Copyright Act of 2022.
“In the meantime, the Commission is also taking steps to make sure that other mirror sites for the platforms are deactivated.
“It again advised the public to be wary of pirate sites that promise free streaming and downloads as they do not only infringe on the copyright but also target unsuspecting users who are exposed to malware, financial fraud, identity thefts and other fraudulent activities.”
The suspension, which took effect on July 20, has drawn praise from rights owner associations in the movie, music, and broadcast industries, Vanguard reports.
Earlier this year, the NCC launched the Stand Together Against Online Piracy (STOP) campaign, calling on government agencies, ISPs, telecom operators, and creative industry leaders to collaborate in protecting intellectual property and securing Nigeria’s digital economy.
NCC's moves to combat piracy in Nigeria
The NCC has significantly intensified its efforts over the years to combat all forms of copyright piracy in Nigeria, particularly in the publishing, film, music, television, and software sectors.
Under Director-General Dr. John Asein, the Commission has strengthened collaboration with the Nigeria Customs Service, introducing pre-import certification, intelligence-sharing, ICT-driven monitoring, and anti-piracy stamps to help distinguish genuine from pirated works during inspections.
According to the NCC, digital piracy leads to huge losses across sectors—television (43 %), publishing (28 %), film, music, and software—and increasingly impacts local creators, not just foreign rights‑owners.
In partnership with the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO), NCC is developing technical and legal frameworks suited to Nigeria’s digital context, including enforcement guidelines for ISPs and intermediaries under the 2022 Copyright Act.
This combined strategy, including enforcement raids, border management, stakeholder partnerships, public awareness, and digital tools, represents a multi‑pronged approach.
While piracy remains a challenge, especially in informal markets, the NCC’s stepped‑up operations and policy reforms signal real progress and a growing resolve to safeguard Nigeria’s creative economy.
Netflix speaks on reported plans to leave Nigeria
Earlier, Legit.ng reported that leading streaming service Netflix has reacted to reports that it has exited the Nigerian market.
Several social media reports regarding Netflix's exit were linked to renowned Nollywood actor Kunle Afolayan, who suggested that the streaming platform had cancelled several commissioned projects in Nigeria.
Industry players clarified that Netflix is not leaving but is only cutting down on its budget.
This article has been updated by the head of business desk, Victor Enengedi, with additional information.
Source: Legit.ng
