In Abuja, no space for ponographic billboards By Akeem Lasisi

A new outdoor regime is expected to be launched in the Federal Capital, Abuja, soon, as the FTC authority and the Outdoor Advertising Association of Nigeria have, in the past few months, been jointly developing guidelines for operations.

What foregrounds a smooth relationship between regulators and operators was displayed on Tuesday, when top FCT officials paid the OAAN executives a visit in Lagos, where both parties examined a draft policy guideline that resulted from their earlier deliberations.

Led by the Director of Administration in Finance, Alhaji Yusuf Tsaiybu, the FCT top shots expressed the desire of the FCT Minister, Alhaji Adamu Aliero, to see outdoor advertising flourish in Abuja. As a result, he told the OAAN team led by its President, Chief Kole Ademulegun, that a department that would oversee the working of the sub-sector was being strengthened.

”When your executive paid a courtesy call on the FCT minister, you had succeeded not only in creating awareness concerning your business, you also succeeded in inspiring his interest in your coming full time to Abuja,” Tsaiybu told his hosts at the meeting held at the OAAN office in Onipanu area of Lagos. ”I can assure you that the minister has been following our deliberations, and he is ready to give needed support as soon as the policy issue is cemented.”

As comparatively humane as the guidelines are, however, the policy seriously frowns on adverts that portend immorality. Particularly, the Abuja regulating authority warns that it will not entertain copies that spur unrestricted sensual images.

In section 5. 0 of the guideline, which highlights items that are prohibited, it rejects, ”Signs containing statements, words or pictures of an obscene, indecent or immoral character with appeal to prutient interest in sex, or which are patently offensive and do not contain any serious literary, artistic political or scientific value.”

Also in the prohibited categories are those that cause hazards to traffic signs, or those that imitate such signs in a manner that will interfere with their messages; advert signs erected in such a manner that any portion of the sign or its support attached to, or will interfere with, the free use of any fire escape, standpipe, or obstruct any required stairway, ventilator or window.

Among the general requirements for practising outdoor advertising in Abuja, the intending operator must show evidence of having practised in Nigeria for not less than five years, while a company must show evidence of its membership of OAAN. Besides its chief executive must also have been registered by the Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria, just as it must maintain a corporate office in Abuja, and produce tax certificate.

Among adverts types that require formal approval are those on ad vehicles, undeveloped land, on gardens, playgrounds, and recreation centres.

The same applies to ads on banners and posters, light box billboard, telephone booths and wall drapes.