Get Ads Approved or Face Penalties - FG Warns Bloggers, Sketch Makers & More

The Federal Government, through the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON), has announced that Nigerian sketch creators, comedians, bloggers and other content creators using digital platforms will now be punished for failing to not have obtained approval before publishing their advertisements online.< /p>

According to the body, identified digital media users, including social media influencers, have posted content that violates the Nigerian Code of Advertising Practice.

ARCON, in a statement released Monday by its chief executive, Dr Olalekan Fadolapo, said most of the advertisements exhibited by those listed above are "unethical with unverified claims and misinformation”.

The National Advertising and Marketing Regulatory Agency has warned that it will "take appropriate action, including prosecution of violators of the provisions of the law and penalties to ensure compliance".

He said: "ARCON has received complaints regarding the advertising, publicity and marketing communications activities of comedians, sketch makers, influencers, content creators/producers, bloggers, etc. on digital media platforms.

"Most of the advertisements exposed by this group are not only unethical with unverified claims and misinformation, but also in violation of the Nigerian Code of Advertising Practices.

"Through this public notice, digital agencies, brand owners, owners of secondary digital media spaces and others involved in advertising in the online digital space are invited to seek pre-approval for exposure of all advertising, publicity and marketing communications in accordance with ARCON Law No. 23 of 2022. »