COSON targets Nigerian politicians ahead of elections

Okoroji was speaking at the No Music Day event in Lagos, which was attended by artists, investeors and lawyers.

“It is our firm belief that creative people in Nigeria cannot afford to keep quiet any longer as Nigeria goes through another electioneering campaign season in which politicians hop from one end of the country to the other but no one offers any direction for the development and optimal deployment of the millions of Nigeria’s creative talents for national development,” he said.

“Today, we wish to tell Nigerian politicians that we will not be taken for granted any more and we will not help people canvass for votes who after getting into office will abandon the creative industry to suffer in an environment that completely discourages creativity."

Each year on No Music Day (1 September), radio stations obeying a COSON directive do not play music from 8 to 10am. These stations join in as a stand against widespread copyright infringement across the country. The theme this year was Copyright is Human Right.

Okoroji, however, took the opportunity to address those vying for positions ahead of Nigeria’s general elections in 2019.

“We believe that the time has come for our music industry to go beyond simply providing entertainment but playing a key role in nation-building," he said.

“We cannot afford to give up as a nation despite the immense disappointments we have had. We must reinvent the Nigerian nation and speak truth to power.

"We believe that in this process, creative people in Nigeria must play a central role, stand up, take responsibility, work together, and establish the strong advocacy necessary in every democracy to create positive change.”

Although COSON has embarked on a number of causes, the body is still suspended by the Nigerian Communications Commission from collecting royalties on behalf of artists. The suspension was the result of a long battle concerning COSON leadership, as Okoroji and Efe Omoregbe have claimed the position.