Says “it is illegal for anyone to practice advertising without being first registered by APCON”
The regulation of advertising contents in Nigeria has gone beyond the traditional media as the Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria (APCON) says it will start clamping down on unregistered advertisers on social media platforms such as Blogs, Facebook,Twitter, Instagram,WhatsApp and others.
The Registrar/Chief Executive of APCON, Dr. Olalekan Fadolapo announced this today at a briefing in Lagos.
Dr. Fadolapo said this move has become necessary following the proliferation of advertising agents on the social media space ,most of whom are not complying with the Code of practice and ethics of advertising in the country.
According to the APCON Registrar, “These days,many people are bloggers and influencers, offering themselves, their services, blogs and media handles Aa platforms for product and services to be advertised on without recourse to accepted principles and ethics of the advertising practice. The sharp increase in violation and infraction of the Nigerian Code of Advertising is not only worrisome but also portends danger.
“APCON has been inundated with petitions over unethical advertisements exposed on the online media platforms targeting Nigeria market by both the primary and secondary digital media platform owners”.
The briefing was tagged, ” ENSURING COMPLIANCE OF ONLINE ADVERTISEMENT WITH THE PROVISIONS OF THE NIGERIAN CODE OF ADVERTISING PRACTICE, SALES
PROMOTIONS AND OTHER RIGHTS/RESTRICTIONS ON PRACTICE.
Dr. Fadolapo pointed out that ,”Advertising regulation, self or statutory, has created conducive business
atmosphere around the world and Nigeria has not been an exception. Since the
establishment of the Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria (APCON) by Act No.
55 of 1988 which charged APCON with the regulation and control of advertising in
Nigeria in all aspect and ramifications, APCON has through her mandates
significantly reduced the exposure of unwholesome and unethical advertisement in
the traditional media, this includes the print, broadcast and out-of-home media.
“With the increase of digital media activities in Nigeria and accessibility of online media platforms, we have been faced with a new threat of unethical and provocative
advertising and marketing communication materials which have every potential of
inflaming religious crisis, moral decadence and misleading information when allowed to thrive with attendant negative effect on the country, its economy and
value system.
“The advent of the internet and new media, characterized with social networking sites such as Blogs, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, WhatsApp etc., has revolutionized communication globally. All the giant tech and primary digital media
platforms owners such as Google, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube etc have been exploring the Nigeria digital media space with all sort of advertisements some of
which are in violation of the Nigerian Code of Advertising Practice, pre-exposure
vetting and ethical requirements of an advertisement.
” The Code has adequately provided a guide and basic standard which as a matter of
necessity all advertisements should embrace as minimum and acceptable level. The
Code demands that advertisement must be legal, decent, honest, truthful,
respectful and mindful of Nigeria’s culture, constitutional tenets and relevant lawful
enactments.
“With the electioneering season at hand, elective political office aspirants are also implored to ensure that their political advertisements are vetted and approved by
the ASP before exposure on any medium. This will diminish the repugnant influence of hate speech and unethical political communication in the country.
” APCON WILL LIKE TO REITERATE THAT ADVERTISING IS A DISTINGUISHED
PROFESSION LIKE MEDICINE, LAW, ACCOUNTING, ETC. THE PRACTICE OF
ADVERTISING IS GOVERN BY APCON LAW AS STATED IN SECTIONS 1 AND 17 OF
THE ACT. IT IS ILLEGAL AND CRIMINAL FOR ANYONE TO PRACTICE ADVERTISING
WITHOUT BEING FIRST REGISTERED BY APCON. APCON WILL CLAMPDOWN ON
ALL INDIVIDUALS AND ORGANISATION THAT ENGAGE IN ADVERTISING
WITHOUT BEING FIRST LICENSED BY APCON.
