Books and publishing
Legal deposit in Nigeria
The duty to deposit copies of what you publish, and what evidence to keep so you can prove you did.
1 min read · Last checked 23 July 2026
The requirement
Legal deposit is a legal obligation to deposit copies of a published work with the designated institutions, so the nation keeps a record of what is published in it. It follows from publication itself: once your book is out, the duty applies.
- 1Publish
- 2Deposit copies
- 3Keep the receipt
- 4WBA files the evidence
What to keep
The question "did we deposit this?" is usually asked years later, by someone who was not there. Keep proof of each deposit:
| Keep | Why |
|---|---|
| The receipt or acknowledgement | It is the proof the deposit was made |
| The date of deposit | It shows the deposit was on time |
| What was deposited: title, format, number of copies | It shows which edition the deposit covers |
WBA keeps all three on your title record, in the compliance desk's evidence store.
What WBA does
- Tracks the requirement against your title.
- Reminds you before the deadline.
- Keeps the evidence once you have deposited.