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Tag: billboards

  • Ahmed decries destruction of parties’ billboards

    Kwara State Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed has described as unfortunate and unacceptable, the vandalisation of billboards belonging to political parties and their candidates by unknown persons.

    Last week, Police Commissioner Bashir Manama said he would not condone destruction of parties’ billboards ahead of next year’s general elections.

    In a statement by his Senior Special Assistant (SSA) on Media and Communication, Dr Muyideen Akorede, the governor warned parties, their candidates and supporters to desist from such actions in the interest of peace and harmonious coexistence.

    He urged political parties and their candidates to campaign for votes on the basis on their ideas and plans for the electorate, rather than the use of force, violent rhetoric or taking the law into their hands.

    The governor said only the Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria (APCON) and the Kwara State Signage and Advertising Agency (KWASAA) were authorised by law to either approve or remove outdoor advertising for non-compliance with existing regulations.

    He added that the police and other law enforcement agencies had been advised to arrest and prosecute anyone violating the law on outdoor advertising or illegally destroying billboards.

    Also, the police yesterday promised to arrest and bring to justice anyone found destroying political billboards in the state.

    A statement by the command’s spokesperson Ajayi Okasanmi noted “with dismay, the attitude of miscreants, in spite of the admonition and plea for peaceful co-existence among political parties and assurances freely expressed by politicians in several fora with the police command”.

    It added: “Some unscrupulous elements, persons or group of individuals had thrown this warning to the winds by destroying billboards, banners and posters of candidates displayed around Ilorin metropolis. This is unacceptable.

    “The command has set in motion machinery to identify and apprehend the perpetrators of this dastardly act to face the full wrath of the law.”

  • Enugu PDP laments alleged destruction of billboards by opposition parties

    THE Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Enugu State, Hon. Augustine Nnamani, yesterday lamented the alleged destruction of the PDP-led government’s billboards at the entrance of the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu, by members of the opposition parties while welcoming the Vice President, His Excellency, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo to the state. Nnamani, who noted that Enugu State under the present administration of His Excellency, Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi has been peaceful, regretted that a few individuals in the state, who are unsettled by the existing peace and good governance , have returned with their needless antics.

    The PDP chairman added that “this dastardly act was a clear confirmation of our stance that we never destroyed billboards of the opposition political parties in the state or prevented them from mounting their own.” He stressed that contrary to the allegations against the PDP, “from what you have seen now, this is a clear testimony that they are the ones destroying our billboards.The same thing happened to our billboards, few weeks ago, at Abakpa, Enugu East Local Government Area, where about five billboards were destroyed by the opposition political parties.

    “This actually shows that there were few people in Enugu State who do not want the peace which has been entrenched by the present PDP-led state government to continue, because our government is known for its friendliness and penchant for peace. We accommodate everybody, we allow opinions from all sectors of the society, we don’t go against anybody, our campaigns are based on issues.” When asked if the PDP specifically suspects any opposition party, Nnamani explained: “A few days ago, like you all know, the APC, the opposition party in the state accused us of destroying their billboards and I came out openly to say that such a thing never existed. But from what you have just seen, it shows that our own billboards are the ones being destroyed.” He therefore urged the security agencies in the state to fish out the culprits and bring them to book as well as “put adequate measures in place to ensure that this kind of dastardly act does not repeat itself again.”

  • Fayose removes PDP logo from campaign office, billboards

    Fayose removes PDP logo from campaign office, billboards

    Ekiti State Governor Ayo Fayose has adjusted his campaign strategies ahead of next year’s governorship election.
    The Nation learnt yesterday Fayose removed the logo and name of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from his campaign office at Olora junction, Adebayo, Ado- Ekiti.
    It was gathered the one storey building was repainted white, with every insignia of PDP removed.
    Before repainting, the building had Fayose’s picture embossed on PDP logo with the inscription: “Fayose Our Leader, Architect of Modern Ekiti.”
    The governor installed a billboard close to the gate of Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital (EKSUTH), without the PDP name and logo.
    The billboard, with Fayose’s portrait, reads: “Ekiti 2018: Support Continuity, Fayose Leads, We Follow. Again, It’s Going To Be 16-0.”
    The Nation observed that the mini signposts mounted on Ado-Ikere Road, bearing the logo and name of PDP alongside Fayose’s name, have been removed.
    They were replaced with ones without PDP name and logo, but with Fayose’s pictures, and the statement: “Ni 2018, E Standby”, meaning “My People Be on Standby in 2018.”
    Posters with the above inscription, which have no PDP logo, were pasted in Ado-Ekiti.
    A source said the uncertainty hanging over PDP was responsible for the governor’s action.
    “Fayose does not want to be caught unawares. Nobody knows how the PDP factional crisis will end. It will be suicidal for him to wait till the end of litigation at the Supreme Court,” the source said.
    Fayose is believed to be heading for the Alliance for Democracy (AD), the platform on which he is expected to anoint a successor for the 2018 governorship election.
    His tenure will end on October 15, 2018, while the governorship poll will hold in about a year from now.
    The battle for the soul of the PDP at the national level has shifted to the Supreme Court, which adjourned the case till May 25.
    National Chairman Ali Modu Sheriff heads one faction, while the other, which Fayose belongs, is led by the National Caretaker Committee Chairman, Ahmed Makarfi.
    The suit between the William Ajayi faction recognised by an Ado-Ekiti Federal High Court and the Gboyega Oguntuase-led faction loyal to Fayose is before the Court of Appeal, Ado-Ekiti.

  • RISAA to seize illegal billboards

    The Rivers State Signage and Advertisement Agency (RISAA) is poised to seize illegal billboards.

    Its Acting Managing Director, Mr. Chukwudi Dimkpa, said outdoor advertising structures’ owners should register before November 30, or risk being classified as illegal.

    He said unregistered billboard would be removed after a 30-day notice.

    Dimkpa said it was unlawful for anyone to erect or modify any outdoor structure for signage development without registering with the agency.

    He said owners and operators of  structures should apply for permit, warning that the cost of removing such structures would be borne by defaulters.

  • PDP had most ad billboards in 2014, says TMKG

    PDP had most ad billboards in 2014, says TMKG

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had the highest number of billboards in Nigeria last year, a report by TMKG Consulting, a media audit firm, has said.

    Also, the telecoms industry was the most active sector with beer billboards as the second most active category.

    In its latest yearly report, the firm said unsold inventory increased by 57 per cent while Digital Out of Home Hoardings (OOH) display grew by 22 per cent.

    “These are some of the findings in the latest out of home media audit. PDP has the most billboards in Nigeria in 2014. Telecoms category is the most active sector using billboards, while Beer is the second most active category. Unsold inventory increased by 57 per cent while Digital OOH display grew by 22 per cent. These are some of the findings in TMKG Consulting’s latest out of home media audit,” stated TMKG

    TMKG Consulting, Nigeria’s leading OOH and BTL audit and performance evaluation agency, conducts field work in the country. It audits all the billboards, recording key advertiser, site and media owner information.

    Titled: “Outsight!”, the Chief Executive Oficer(CEO), TMKG, Chike Oputa, said the report covers over 150 cities/towns.

    He said: “The report follows our comprehensive census of all displays in the country, numbering over 11,000, excluding indoor panels but covering over 50 OOH formats on road side, rooftops, walls and at the airports, including 105 product categories and 1000 brands with over 50,000 photos taken.”

    In the report, OOH media spend in Nigeria last year was N30.66 billion, representing seven percent increase from 2013 figures.

    The telecom category, long reputed for its big budget, topping ad spend on the medium followed by the beer, government/political, bank and carbonated soft drinks categories.

    Total category expenditure for the telecom brands was in excess of N6 billion. Among the brands, telecom advertisers also dominated investment on OOH with Glo emerging the biggest spender. The top five brands also included, Airtel, MTN, Etisalat and Star brand.

    In terms of spend by market, the report stated that Lagos as a commercial nerve still remains the city of choice for outdoor media investment accounting for about 50 per cent of total outdoor investment.

    Lagos along with Ibadan (in the southwest), Abuja, Port Harcourt (the oil rich city by the coastal south) and Aba (the market city in the east) were reported as the top five cities with the most number of outdoor media displays.

    With over 120 media owners in the sector, New Crystal Communications, Invent Media, Marketing+Media, Optimum Exposures, Afromedia and Rocana are among the top media owners by revenue.

    There appears to be a glut in the market with over a quarter of total Outdoor hoarding in the market unsold.

  • ‘Stop destroying Ambode’s billboards’

    ‘Stop destroying Ambode’s billboards’

    A group, Support Group for Ambode 2015, has condemned the destruction of billboards belonging to the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Lagos State, Akinwunmi Ambode, by operatives of the Federal Task Force.

    A statement by its spokesman, Kehinde Bamigbetan, described the Federal Task Force as a “gross exploitation of the unemployed by an insensitive and anti-people-led Federal Government, seeking to set the poor against one another”.

    “It is sad that the same government that controls power at the centre is approaching the electoral contest in Lagos State with reckless impunity and irresponsibility.

    “For instance, two weeks ago, the Task Force pasted notices on outdoor advertisement on the Third Mainland Bridge and other roads built by the Federal Government in Lagos State, purporting to direct their owners to remove them.

    “It followed up this illegal threat at the weekend by destroying the billboards and other outdoor adverts.

    We hereby call on the PDP and its candidate, Jimi Agbaje, to call on the Federal Task Force to abide by the rule of law and respect the authority of the local governments of Lagos and their agency, the Lagos State Signage and Advertising Agency (LASAA) to carry out the regulation and control of outdoor advertisements and hoarding.

    “This is the only way Agbaje can convince the electorate that he truly subscribes to decency, respect for authority and non-violence in canvassing his options in the forthcoming elections.”

  • ‘PDP vandalising APC billboards in Lagos’

    ‘PDP vandalising APC billboards in Lagos’

    Lagos State All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday accused the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of defacing and vandalising billboards, posters and banners of its candidates across the local governments.

    The ruling party said suspected thugs masquerading as members of the illegal Federal Task Force in Lagos were instigated by the PDP to cause mayhem and  provoke APC leaders and followers.

    The Publicity Secretary, Comrade Joe Igbokwe, who raised the alarm that the PDP was inciting war, said the evidence of vandalisation of campaign materials are visible in Gbagada, Third Mainkand, Osborn and Victoria Island, where vandalised APC banners were replaced with those of the PDP.

    He lamented that suspected thugs and hoodlums instigated by the PDP invaded Osborn with dangerous weapons removed the posters of the APC governorship candidate, Mr. Akinwumi Ambode, and the presidential candidate, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, adding that the police deliberately refused to stop the brigandage.

    Igbokwe added: “Last wednesday, the PDP mobilised its members and thugs and held road users and traffic on Ikorodu Road for eight hours in the pretext of holding rallies. In the process, they targeted all APC posters, billboards and posters on the road for destruction and removal. We are yet to see any police action against such act of recklessness and rascality. This was the same police that threatened to arrest LASAA officials for regulating indiscriminate defacement of Lagos with posters and handbills.”

    The party official said that the PDP is planning to instigate violence because it has been rejected by Nigerians. He added: “The PDP thinks it can overwhelm Lagos with brute force and state sponsored criminality and, if it is so sure that it will win Lagos, as it has been boasting, why is it precipitating a war in Lagos?

    “Does it also have the capacity to manage the war in the unlikely event that it wins a state where it is not welcome? Our members are running out of patience in this continued provocation. While we are trying our utmost best to restrain our members from being drawn into any war that will undermine our well oiled wheel of change, we warn that there is a limit to tolerance and that our members may be forced to react, if to defend themselves and their interests.

    “Our silence should not be mistaken for submission and docility. We may be forced to react, if pushed to the wall and the perpetrators of this on-going deliberate brigandage will be held responsible for this. We call on the Lagos State Police Commissioner and his command to act quickly and decisively to stop this brigandage. We cannot continue to complain while the PDP is deliberately allowed to breach the security and peace of Lagos. Lagosians will not tolerate this criminality any longer.”

  • Suspected thugs destroy Umeh’s billboards, posters

    Suspected thugs destroy Umeh’s billboards, posters

    The National Chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Chief Victor Umeh, has alleged that suspected hoodlums have destroyed his billboards and posters in Anambra Central.

    He is the party’s candidate for Anambra Central senatorial zone.

    When The Nation went round the zone at the weekend, Umeh’s 27 billboards had been destroyed. His posters were either torn or defaced at Agukwu Nri, Amawbia, Agulu, Adazi ani, Nkpor and Borromeo roundabout.

    Umeh’s campaign Director- General, Obele Chuka Obele, said what happened was a bad precedent in Anambra politics.

    The APGA senatorial candidate at the weekend visited the monarch of Obosi in Idemili North Local Government, Igwe Chidubem Iweka, who assured him of his subjects’ support.

    Umeh said he was not in the race for selfish reasons, but to give the people the dividends of democracy.

  • Otti decries billboards’ destruction in Aba

    Otti decries billboards’ destruction in Aba

    The governorship candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Dr. Alex Otti, has condemned the destruction of his billboards in Aba, the commercial hub of Abia State, by suspected hoodlums.

    Otti, who spoke to reporters through the Director-General of his campaign organisation, Chief Ahamdi Nweke, after a tour of the city to assess the  damage, described the action as criminal and counterproductive.

    Nweke, who described Otti as the man the indigenes were expecting to develop the state, alleged that the attack was carried out by those afraid of his acceptance.

    He said: “The Alex Otti Campaign Organisation erected billboards everywhere in the town, but as you can see, the opposition have destroyed them.

    “They do this because the state wants a change. Because Aba people have through their actions made it clear that they want a change. They believe they can stop the change by destroying the billboards of the man, who is going to bring about the change.”

    The director-general, berating the perpetrators, said: “What we expect from those who destroyed the billboards is to campaign as Otti is doing, rather than engage in barbarism and vandalism.

    “What we expect the opposition to do is to campaign as we are doing. We are going door to door, market to market, shop to shop, speaking to people on the change we must have in Abia. We have been in this mess for years and people think we must have a credible leader like Dr. Otti, the governorship candidate of APGA.

    “It is shameful and unfortunate that people have resorted to vandalism and thuggery.

    “A huge amount was spent on the billboards. But they have been destroyed by people who ought to have erected their own.”

    Nweke accused the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of carrying out the act “because the party’s billboards were not touched.”

    He alleged: “It is not difficult to know where these destructions came from, because the few billboards PDP has in the town were not touched. Although what it has in most places are banners.

    “We will not attack PDP because it is not in existence in the state. You will remember that before the state congresses, Abia PDP was dissolved, the local government executives were dissolved, the ward executives were dissolved. So, there is no PDP in the state. This is why APGA has taken the centre stage and everyone is supporting the party.”

    The director-general urged APGA’s supporters to remain calm, saying Otti was a decent man, who would not be involved in violence.

  • Agency warns politicians over billboards

    The Anambra State Signage and Advertisement Agency (ANSAA), has threatened to take senators Andy Uba and Margery Okadigbo to court for refusing to pay for their billboards.

    Also, the agency has warned other senatorial, House of Representatives and state Assembly aspirants to pay for the use of billboards or risk having the structures dismantled.

    Briefing reporters in Awka, the managing Director of (ANSAA), Sir Jude Emecheta said that Uba and Okadigbo had not paid the state government since inception, describing them as worst offenders.

    Before now, the state commissioner for information, culture and Tourism, Chief Tony Onyima had put up an announcement citing the Anambra State physical planning law 2013 that forbids the erection or display of bill boards without approval.

    According the Onyima, “ANSAA will bring down all illegal billboards, banners and posters and prosecute all those pasting posters on electric poles, public buildings, road dividers, roundabouts and all unauthorized surfaces”.

    However, Emecheta said that5 the amount to be paid by6 the contestants rages between three hundred and fifty thousand (N350, 000) to five million naira (N5m) dependi9ng on the size.

    The aspirants are not paying anything to (ANSAA) which is against the law, we will dismantle all the bill boards mounted by such aspirants and drag them the court”.

    He said that only few persons like the National Chairman of the All Progressives Grande Alliance (APGA) Chief Victor Umeh, Kidilinye Okelekwe of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) had started paying their bills.

    Aspirants are advised to go through Advertising Agency of Nigeria (AAN) or force the consequences of their billboards being removed”

    Emecheta further said that (ANSAA) had not given any permission to any aspirants to any aspirant or any outdoor company to erect new bill boards in the state.