Lawrence Nwimo, Awka
Anambra State Government has issued a directive banning individual ownership of billboards in the state.
A statement by the Managing Director/CEO Anambra State Signage and Advertisement Agency, Tony Odili Ujubuonu, said individuals or organizations must gain approval from the state agency before such would be installed anywhere in the state.
The statement read: “Henceforth all outdoor advertisement commercial structures in Anambra State can no longer be erected or owned by individuals, political party candidates, organizations, government agencies, or companies.
“Any individual, company or government agency that requires a billboard shall henceforth rent the board from registered practitioners in the state.
“If a board is erected without proper approval which is given only to registered outdoor advertising agencies by ANSAA, such board or boards will immediately be brought down, confiscated and the defaulter will bear the cost of such enforcement.”
Recall that the state agency had, August, warned that presidential candidates of all political parties in Nigeria will pay N10million each to paste their campaign posters in Anambra State.
The public notice also disclosed that other candidates for public offices will pay varying amounts to paste their posters anywhere in the state. While the presidential candidates are mandated to pay N10 million, senatorial candidates will pay N7million, House of Representatives candidates will pay N5million, and state House of Assembly candidates will pay N1million.
Ujubuonu also directed that the payment of posters be made to the government revenue account before any poster is pasted anywhere, noting that politicians who default on the payments would face prosecution before the election. He announced that the state government has banned the pasting of campaign posters on street light poles; roundabouts and other public buildings and infrastructure in the state.
