The trademarks registry in Nigeria has issued a notice, dated March 30, 2020, providing additional measures taken by the registry as a result of the uncertainties surrounding COVID-19.
The registry had issued an earlier notice on March 24, 2020 outlining measures it had taken due to COVID-19 including the complete shutdown of all onsite activities. The implication of this is that manual official searches and filings are hereby suspended till further notice. The Trademark Registry accepts filings through the online system, however based on the notice, all other steps to registration will be on hold.
In the latest notice, the registrar, Yauri Adamu, addressed concerns relating to extension of time for filing and responding to applications. In the notice, the Registrar stated:
” I am directed by the Honorable Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment to inform you that time has been extended for all actions before the Registrar that is affected by the complete shutdown of activities as declared by the Federal Government, particularly with respect to Trademarks Journals published in February 2020. In a manner that the period of the lockdown is excluded in computing the period of such actions orfilings, until the end of such period as may be declared by the Federal Government”.
For more information on filing trademarks, patents and designs in Nigeria, please email trademarks@nlipw.com.
