Anambra State Governor Charles Soludo has issued an ultimatum of two weeks for political candidates to pay for posters and billboards or have them defaced.
A statement by the Anambra State Signage and Advertising Agency, (ANSAA) MD/CEO Tony Ujubuonu on Sunday warned it would deface billboards and posters of political parties and candidates owing the agency.
The agency said the enforcement of the order would begin on December 5, 2022.
The statement reads: “Anambra State Signage and Advertisement Agency through a letter dated 14th November, 2022, urged all Out-Of-Home advertising practitioners in the state to revalidate and register all their billboards.
“According to a letter addressed to both OAAN and registered Non OAAN practitioners, the agency has taken major steps towards sanitising outdoor advertising practice in the state through ban on individuals, clients and government agencies ownership of billboards in the state.
“Having done this, the agency expected maximum cooperation from the practitioners in terms of registering their billboards and payment of campaigns but are yet to get such.
“As a result of the above, the agency has directed all billboard owners to provide the information required to register each billboard and also pay up for any campaign on them.
“Through this release, the entire political party candidates for the upcoming general elections are urged to make sure those handling their campaigns have made payments to the government to avoid ANSAA defacing their campaign materials.
“The agency has also given a two-week grace to make such payments or face a legal enforcement.
“It has also gotten to the knowledge of the Agency that some political party candidates are erecting billboards on their own ignorantly. The Agency wants to state that this is not only wrong but illegal and any such billboard would be brought down without any notice, the structure seized permanently and auctioned.
“This lasts between 14th November to 5th of December.”
The government announced charges for outdoor advertising in August. Presidential candidates like Peter Obi are to pay N10 million.
