Nigerian actress and filmmaker Omoni Oboli has called for urgent government intervention to combat rampant piracy on Telegram, which she describes as a growing threat to the survival of Nollywood. In an exclusive interview, the acclaimed producer revealed that the industry loses an estimated $6 million annually due to illegal distribution of movies, with Telegram channels increasingly becoming a hotspot for stolen content.
Piracy has long plagued Nollywood, but the shift to digital platforms like YouTube, initially seen as a solution for affordable distribution, has backfired. Pirates now exploits platforms such as Telegram to create “watch parties” and unauthorized channels, offering free access to films meant to generate revenue for creators. Oboli, whose YouTube channel OmoniOboli TV boasts over 720,000 subscribers and 153 million views, emphasized the devastating impact: “Audiences watching pirated content on Telegram don’t realize they’re harming the very creators they admire. We’re losing earnings that could fund future projects.”
The problem gained attention after Oboli’s film A Different Type of Love was pirated on Telegram shortly after its YouTube release. She noted that piracy tactics have evolved, with thieves re-uploading movies under different titles or streaming them via low-bandwidth channels to attract data-conscious viewers. “Even with anti-piracy clauses in contracts, tracking and shutting down these leaks is like playing whack-a-mole,” she said.
While streaming platforms like Netflix and Showmax have made Nollywood content more accessible by reducing subscription fees, Oboli argued that weak enforcement of intellectual property laws undermines these efforts. “Individual creators can’t fight this alone. We need stricter penalties for digital piracy and dedicated government task forces to monitor platforms,” she urged.
Despite the challenges, Oboli remains optimistic about Nollywood’s future. She highlighted the industry’s resilience, citing the rise of YouTube as a viable distribution channel and the global demand for Nigerian stories. “The next decade will bring seismic shifts, new platforms, AI tools, and broader collaborations. But without stronger protections, piracy could stifle this growth,” she warned.
Industry analysts echo her concerns, noting that Telegram’s encrypted nature complicates anti-piracy efforts. Meanwhile, Oboli’s channel continues to innovate, blending cinema-quality production with YouTube’s reach, a model she believes can thrive if supported by policy reforms.
