Nigeria: Media & Entertainment Law

The Nigerian Copyright Commission has issued a stern warning to DJs about unauthorized music use, but a critical question emerges: what happens when music plays in supermarkets, gyms, airports, and hotels where no DJ is present? This analysis examines why Nigeria's copyright enforcement framework must extend beyond nightclub performances to capture the vast commercial music usage occurring daily across retail, hospitality, and public venues that currently operate in a regulatory blind spot.

A Nigerian Federal High Court has ruled on a high-stakes copyright dispute over the globally acclaimed gospel song "Way Maker," examining whether a music producer's technical contributions to a recording constitute co-authorship. The judgment clarifies the critical distinction between creative authorship and production services in determining copyright ownership. This decision carries significant implications for how the music industry documents and allocates rights between artists and technical contributor

The first half of 2026 brought transformative changes to global sport, from FIFA's landmark transfer system reform and CAF's controversial AFCON Final reversal to strengthened maternity protections and eligibility frameworks. In Nigeria, record funding commitments, institutional restructuring, and diaspora talent recruitment initiatives marked a pivotal shift, while landmark court rulings clarified regulatory authority over betting operators and footballer employment rights.

The fourth quarter of 2025 was marked by accelerated regulatory intervention, landmark judicial pronouncements, and rapid commercial and technological evolution in the Telecommunications, Media and Technology...

Detty December has come and gone, and Nigeria's entertainment calendar was once again filled with high-profile concerts by Afro beats artists, and large-scale live events.

The Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) is the country's most popular league, drawing in devoted fans and generating substantial revenue.

There can be issues of ownership, copyright, and a tendency to give away far too many important pieces of the pie when multiple parties are involved...

The field of entertainment law is quite diverse. In Nigeria, there is no specific law or act that governs the entertainment industry. This means that the concept of entertainment law...

Creative works produced by entertainers are largely protected by copyright. They have exclusive control over their work.