Lagos ad agency denies audio saying it rejects opposition campaign billboards
The Lagos State Signage and Advertising Agency on Sunday called an audio trend a “staged conversation” claiming that the agency has mandated state advertising companies to reject advertisements from opposition party campaign.
The agency, in a statement posted on its Twitter account signed by its managing director, Adedamola Docemo, said that it would not interfere in the affairs of any outdoor advertising agency.
In the 2023 general election, state governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) will face Olajide Adediran of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and 13 others.
audioThe audio, which has garnered nearly 50,000 views, was posted by Twitter user @realolaudah on Saturday and captioned "If you don't see any billboards in Lagos State advertising another political party than APC, that's why.”
In the audio, the speaker claimed to have called an outdoor advertising company to investigate a billboard in Aiyetoro, Epe region of the state.
The alleged manager responded to his request and asked about the type of ad.
"It's for politics anyway. It's for Labor," the caller replied.
Then the official said "I'm not sure we're going to accept this. We have internal control issues with Lagos Signage and this is becoming a serious issue.
"They don't give us the ability to advertise for other parties outside of APC."
Reaction
The state regulator described the audio message as “meaningful talk,” adding that it was a “blatant lie.”
While we understand that this is a political season and that the Fifth Column will attempt to portray us in a bad light for their own personal gain, we will not rest on our oars forever to say the truth and perform our duties with integrity and absolute respect for statutory laws and ethics,” the statement read.
Mr. Docemo said that the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON) is the body "charged with the responsibility of regulating advertising content and therefore can prevent any advertising, campaign, policy, etc. contrary to the ethical and obscene to be displayed, not LASAA.
“Our agency does not interfere in any way with the activities of outdoor advertising agencies. It is therefore common industry practice that any contract to display political campaigns is at the discretion of the outdoor advertising agency that owns the structure of the billboard and the advertiser.
"For the sake of clarity, this is the sales season within the industry and this is the income made by the owners, their financial obligation to LASAA will be settled.
"We only license regulated billboard structures and not the advertisements displayed on them. Anyone with proof that we have given such... instruction in the audio should bring it to our attention immediately."
PDPIn July, Adediran also accused the state government of tearing down his campaign billboards and posters.
But the agency's spokesperson quickly debunked his claims as false.
Support the integrity and credibility journalism of PREMIUM TIMES Good journalism costs a lot of money. Yet only good journalism can ensure the pos...
The Lagos State Signage and Advertising Agency on Sunday called an audio trend a “staged conversation” claiming that the agency has mandated state advertising companies to reject advertisements from opposition party campaign.
The agency, in a statement posted on its Twitter account signed by its managing director, Adedamola Docemo, said that it would not interfere in the affairs of any outdoor advertising agency.
In the 2023 general election, state governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) will face Olajide Adediran of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and 13 others.
audioThe audio, which has garnered nearly 50,000 views, was posted by Twitter user @realolaudah on Saturday and captioned "If you don't see any billboards in Lagos State advertising another political party than APC, that's why.”
In the audio, the speaker claimed to have called an outdoor advertising company to investigate a billboard in Aiyetoro, Epe region of the state.
The alleged manager responded to his request and asked about the type of ad.
"It's for politics anyway. It's for Labor," the caller replied.
Then the official said "I'm not sure we're going to accept this. We have internal control issues with Lagos Signage and this is becoming a serious issue.
"They don't give us the ability to advertise for other parties outside of APC."
Reaction
The state regulator described the audio message as “meaningful talk,” adding that it was a “blatant lie.”
While we understand that this is a political season and that the Fifth Column will attempt to portray us in a bad light for their own personal gain, we will not rest on our oars forever to say the truth and perform our duties with integrity and absolute respect for statutory laws and ethics,” the statement read.
Mr. Docemo said that the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON) is the body "charged with the responsibility of regulating advertising content and therefore can prevent any advertising, campaign, policy, etc. contrary to the ethical and obscene to be displayed, not LASAA.
“Our agency does not interfere in any way with the activities of outdoor advertising agencies. It is therefore common industry practice that any contract to display political campaigns is at the discretion of the outdoor advertising agency that owns the structure of the billboard and the advertiser.
"For the sake of clarity, this is the sales season within the industry and this is the income made by the owners, their financial obligation to LASAA will be settled.
"We only license regulated billboard structures and not the advertisements displayed on them. Anyone with proof that we have given such... instruction in the audio should bring it to our attention immediately."
PDPIn July, Adediran also accused the state government of tearing down his campaign billboards and posters.
But the agency's spokesperson quickly debunked his claims as false.
Support the integrity and credibility journalism of PREMIUM TIMES Good journalism costs a lot of money. Yet only good journalism can ensure the pos...What's Your Reaction?
