The Federal Government through the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON) has announced that Nigerian skit makers, comedians, bloggers and other content creators using digital platforms will, henceforth, be punished for not getting approval before publishing their online advertisements.
According to the body, the identified digital media users, including social media influencers, have been publishing content violating the Nigerian Code of Advertising Practice.
ARCON in a statement issued on Monday by its Director General, Dr Olalekan Fadolapo, stated that most of the advertisements exposed by the above listed are “unethical with unverified claims and misinformation.”
The nation’s apex advertising and marketing regulatory agency warned that it “will take necessary actions including prosecution of violators of the provisions of the Act and sanctions to ensure compliance.”
Said he: “ARCON has received complaints on the advertising, advertisement and marketing communications activities of comedians, skit 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 Practice.
“By this public notice, digital agencies, brand owners, secondary digital media space owners and other advertising stakeholders in the digital online space are hereby advised to obtain pre-exposure approval of all advertising, advertisement and marketing communications in accordance with the ARCON Act No. 23 of 2022.”
Get approval for adverts or face sanctions – FG warns bloggers, skit makers, others
