Examination of Intellectual Property Rights Enforcement Laws in Nigeria: A Critique of the Legal and Institutional Framework

Abstract

This article critically examines the legal framework and enforcement mechanisms governing intellectual property rights (IPR) in Nigeria, highlighting persistent gaps that undermine effective protection and enforcement. Although Nigeria is committed to international intellectual property standards under instruments such as the Agreement on Trade‑Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) and has recently approved its National Intellectual Property Policy and Strategy (NIPPS) 2025, enforcement outcomes remain weak due to fragmented legal statutes, resource‑constrained enforcement agencies, low public awareness, and judicial inefficiencies. Enforcement challenges manifest in rampant piracy, counterfeiting, and infringement across creative, technological, and commercial sectors, eroding investor confidence and inhibiting innovation and technology transfer. Recent efforts, including judicial education workshops on IP adjudication and the launch of NIPPS to strengthen institutional coordination, signal policy commitment, yet systemic implementation obstacles persist. This critique identifies structural, institutional, and procedural weaknesses that limit the enforcement of Nigeria’s IP laws, and proposes comprehensive reforms, including legislative consolidation, capacity‑building for enforcement agencies, specialized judicial mechanisms, and enhanced public awareness, aimed at accelerating the realization of an innovation‑driven digital and creative economy in Nigeria.